SESSION OF 2024
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT BRIEF
HOUSE BILL NO. 2531
As Agreed to April 4, 2024
Brief*
HB 2531 would establish the Kansas Purple Alert Plan (Purple Alert Plan). The Purple Alert
Plan would be established and implemented by the Office of the Attorney General, in
collaboration with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Kansas Highway Patrol, local law
enforcement agencies, and other public and private agencies and organizations.
Under the Purple Alert Plan, public notice of a missing individual could be promptly
broadcast and a search could be timely undertaken with the cooperation of local law
enforcement, news media, and the general public in order to locate the individual in time to
avoid serious harm or death. The Purple Alert Plan would apply to individuals:
●Who are 18 years of age or older;
●Who have been diagnosed with an intellectual disability;
●Whose whereabouts are unknown;
●Who are believed to be in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death because
of their disability; and
●Who are believed to be unable to return to safety without assistance.
Conference Committee Action
The Conference Committee agreed to amend the contents of SB 371, concerning
amending the current provisions of the Kansas Silver Alert Plan to permit an alert to be issued
for an individual with an intellectual disability, to create the Purple Alert Plan specifically
intended for individuals 18 years of age or older with an intellectual and developmental
disability. The Conference Committee further agreed to remove the provisions of HB 2531,
pertaining to risk-based capital instructions, and add the amended contents of SB 371.
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*Conference committee report briefs are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express
legislative intent. No summary is prepared when the report is an agreement to disagree. Conference committee
report briefs may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.kslegislature.org/klrd
1 - 2531 Background
SB 371
SB 371 was introduced by the Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs at the
request of Senator Holscher.
Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare
In the Senate Committee hearing, proponent testimony was provided by representatives
of InterHab, the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities, and the Autism Society of
America. The proponents generally stated the bill would allow missing persons reports of adults
with intellectual disabilities to reach a wider audience, could lead to faster location of the
individuals when they wander, and reduce the risk of harm.
Written-only proponent testimony was provided by a private citizen.
Neutral testimony was provided by a representative of the Kansas Association of Chiefs of
Police, the Kansas Peace Officers Association, and the Kansas Sheriffs Association.
Opponent testimony was provided by a representative of the Kansas Bureau of
Investigation, who generally stated it would be difficult for organizations to provide a timely and
effective broadcast for an individual given the bill’s broad description of those to whom the alert
would apply.
The Senate Committee amended the bill to clarify when a silver alert for a person 18 years
of age or older with an intellectual disability would be issued. [Note: This amendment was
retained by the Conference Committee with conforming changes to reflect the new Purple Alert
Plan.]
Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of the Budget on SB 371, as
introduced, the Office of the Attorney General, Kansas Highway Patrol, Kansas Department for
Aging and Disability Services, and Kansas Bureau of Investigation indicate the bill would have
no fiscal effect on the agencies.
The League of Kansas Municipalities indicates enactment of the bill would have a fiscal
impact on cities, as law enforcement agencies would experience increased costs associated
with enforcement and training.
The Kansas Association of Counties indicates enactment of the bill would have no impact
on expenditures unless there was a significant increase in missing adults with intellectual
disabilities.
Kansas Purple Alert Plan; missing person; intellectual disability; intellectual and developmental disabilities
ccrb_hb2531_01_0000.odt
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