BILL NUMBER: SB 839INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Runner (Coauthor: Senator Harman) JANUARY 6, 2010 An act to add Section 8594.5 to the Government Code, relating to emergency alerts. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 839, as introduced, Runner. Emergency Alert System: law enforcement officers. Existing law requires the California Highway Patrol to activate the Emergency Alert System at the request of an authorized person at a law enforcement agency if a child 17 years of age or younger, or an individual with a proven mental or physical disability, has been abducted and is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death, and other conditions are met. This bill would require the California Highway Patrol, at the request of an authorized person at a law enforcement agency, to activate the Emergency Alert System and issue a blue alert, as defined, if a law enforcement officer has been killed, suffers serious bodily injury, or is assaulted with a deadly weapon, the suspect has fled the scene of the offense, and other specified conditions are met. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 8594.5 is added to the Government Code, to read: 8594.5. (a) For purposes of this section, "blue alert" means an alert issued following an attack upon a law enforcement officer as described in subdivision (b). (b) In addition to the circumstances described in Section 8594, upon the request of an authorized person at a law enforcement agency that is investigating an offense described in paragraph (1), the California Highway Patrol shall activate the Emergency Alert System and issue a blue alert if all of the following conditions are met: (1) A law enforcement officer has been killed, suffers serious bodily injury, or is assaulted with a deadly weapon, and the suspect has fled the scene of the offense. (2) A law enforcement agency investigating the offense has determined that the suspect poses an imminent threat to the public or other law enforcement personnel. (3) A detailed description of the suspect's vehicle or license plate is available for broadcast. (4) Public dissemination of available information may help avert further harm or accelerate apprehension of the suspect.