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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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An act relating to the Purple Alert; amending s. 2
937.0205, F.S.; requiring local law enforcement 3
agencies to develop policies for a local activation of 4
a Purple Alert for certain missing adults; specifying 5
requirements for such policies; specifying duties of 6
the Department of Law Enforcement's Missing Endangered 7
Persons Information Clearinghouse in the event of a 8
state Purple Alert; specifying conditions under which 9
a local law enforcement agency may request the 10
clearinghouse to open a case; conforming provisions to 11
changes made by the act; providing an effective date. 12
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 14
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Section 1. Section 9 37.0205, Florida Statutes, is amended 16
to read: 17
937.0205 Purple Alert. — 18
(1) The Legislature finds that a standardized state system 19
is necessary to aid in the search for a missing adult identified 20
in subsection (4) paragraph (4)(a). The Legislature also finds 21
that a coordinated local law enforcement and state agency 22
response with prompt and widespread sharing of information will 23
improve the chances of finding the person. 24
(2) It is the intent of the Legislature to establish the 25
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Purple Alert, to be implem ented in a manner that, to the extent 26
practicable, safeguards the privacy rights and related health 27
and diagnostic information of such missing adults. 28
(3) The Department of Law Enforcement, in cooperation with 29
the Department of Transportation, the Depart ment of Highway 30
Safety and Motor Vehicles, the Department of the Lottery, and 31
local law enforcement agencies, shall establish and implement 32
the Purple Alert. At a minimum, the Purple Alert must: 33
(a) Be the only viable means by which the missing adult is 34
likely to be returned to safety; 35
(b) Provide, to the greatest extent possible, for the 36
protection of the privacy, dignity, and independence of the 37
missing adult by including standards aimed at safeguarding these 38
civil liberties by preventing the inadvert ent or unnecessary 39
broadcasting or dissemination of sensitive health and diagnostic 40
information; 41
(c) Limit the broadcasting and dissemination of alerts and 42
related information to the geographic areas where the missing 43
adult could reasonably be, consideri ng his or her circumstances 44
and physical and mental condition, the potential modes of 45
transportation available to him or her or suspected to be 46
involved, and the known or suspected circumstances of his or her 47
disappearance; and 48
(d) Be activated only when there is sufficient descriptive 49
information about the missing adult and the circumstances 50
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surrounding his or her disappearance to indicate that activating 51
the alert is likely to help locate the missing adult. 52
(4)(a) Under a Purple Alert, a local law enforcement 53
agency may broadcast to the media and to persons who subscribe 54
to receive alert notifications under this section information 55
concerning a missing adult is deemed to be an adult : 56
(a)1. Who has a mental or cognitive disability that is not 57
Alzheimer's disease or a dementia -related disorder; an 58
intellectual disability or a developmental disability, as those 59
terms are defined in s. 393.063; a brain injury; another 60
physical, mental, or emotional disability that is not related to 61
substance abuse; or a c ombination of any of these; 62
(b)2. Whose disappearance indicates a credible threat of 63
immediate danger or serious bodily harm to himself or herself, 64
as determined by the local law enforcement agency; 65
(c)3. Who cannot be returned to safety without law 66
enforcement intervention; and 67
(d)4. Who does not meet the criteria for activation of a 68
local Silver Alert or the Silver Alert Plan of the Department of 69
Law Enforcement. 70
(5) For a missing adult on foot or in an unidentified 71
vehicle, local law enforcement agencies shall develop their own 72
policies for activation of a local Purple Alert that meets the 73
requirements set forth in s. 937.021 and shall: 74
(a) Contact media outlets in the affected area or 75
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surrounding jurisdictions; 76
(b) Inform all on-duty law enforcement officers of the 77
missing adult report; and 78
(c) Communicate the report to any other law enforcement 79
agency in the county of jurisdiction. 80
(6) A state Purple Alert may be requested from the 81
Department of Law Enforcem ent's Missing Endangered Persons 82
Information Clearinghouse when the investigation indicates that 83
there is a motor vehicle with an identified license plate or 84
other vehicle information. The clearinghouse shall: 85
(a) Coordinate with the Department of Transp ortation and 86
the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for the 87
activation of dynamic message signs on state highways and the 88
immediate distribution of critical information to the public 89
regarding the missing adult in accordance with the alert; 90
(b) Coordinate with the Department of the Lottery to have 91
the state Purple Alert broadcast on lottery terminals, 92
including, but not limited to, lottery terminals in gas 93
stations, convenience stores, and supermarkets; and 94
(c) Notify subscribers. 95
(7) If a local or state Purple Alert is determined to be 96
necessary and appropriate, the local law enforcement agency 97
having jurisdiction may also request that a case be opened with 98
the Department of Law Enforcement's Missing Endangered Persons 99
Information Clearinghouse. 100
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(b) If a Purple Alert is determined to be necessary and 101
appropriate, the local law enforcement agency having 102
jurisdiction must notify the media and subscribers in the 103
jurisdiction or jurisdictions where the missing adult is 104
believed to or may be located. The local law enforcement agency 105
having jurisdiction may also request that the Purple Alert 106
notification be broadcast on lottery terminals within the 107
geographic regions where the missing adult may reasonably be, 108
including, but not limited to, lott ery terminals in gas 109
stations, convenience stores, and supermarkets. 110
(c) Under the Purple Alert, the local law enforcement 111
agency having jurisdiction may also request that a case be 112
opened with the Department of Law Enforcement's Missing 113
Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse. To enhance local 114
or regional efforts when the investigation indicates that an 115
identifiable vehicle is involved, the clearinghouse must 116
coordinate with the Department of Transportation and the 117
Department of Highway Safety and M otor Vehicles for the 118
activation of dynamic message signs on state highways and the 119
immediate distribution of critical information to the public 120
regarding the missing adult in accordance with the alert. 121
(8)(5) The state Purple Alert process must include 122
procedures to monitor the use, activation, and results of alerts 123
and a strategy for informing and educating law enforcement, the 124
media, and other stakeholders concerning the alert. 125
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(9)(6) The Department of Law Enforcement may adopt rules 126
to implement and administer this section. 127
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 128