North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina House Bill H698 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
2	2		SESSION 2025
3		-	H 1
4		-	HOUSE BILL 698
	3	+	H D
	4	+	HOUSE BILL DRH10308-ND-90
	5	+
5	6
6	7
7	8		Short Title: Center for Missing Persons to Highway Patrol. (Public)
8		-	Sponsors: Representatives Miller and Pyrtle (Primary Sponsors).
9		-	For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
10		-	Referred to: Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery, if favorable, State and Local
11		-	Government, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
12		-	April 3, 2025
13		-	H698 -v-1
	9	+	Sponsors: Representative Miller.
	10	+	Referred to:
	11	+
	12	+	DRH10308 -ND-90
14	13		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
15	14		AN ACT TO TRANSFER THE NORTH CAROLINA CENTER FOR MISSING PERSONS TO 2
16	15		THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL . 3
17	16		The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
18	17		SECTION 1. All functions, powers, duties, and obligations vested in the North 5
19	18		Carolina Center for Missing Persons in the Department of Public Safety are transferred to, vested 6
20	19		in, and consolidated within the State Highway Patrol by a Type I transfer, as defined in 7
21	20		G.S. 143A-6. 8
22	21		SECTION 2. Article 17 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes, as enacted by S.L. 9
23	22		2024-57, is amended by adding a new Part 4 to be entitled "North Carolina Center for Missing 10
24	23		Persons." 11
25	24		SECTION 3. Subpart B of Part 5 of Article 13 of Chapter 143B of the General 12
26	25		Statutes is recodified as Part 4 of Article 17 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes, as enacted 13
27	26		by S.L. 2024-57, as follows: 14
28	27		Former Citation Recodified Citation 15
29	28		143B-1010 143B-1760 16
30	29		143B-1011 143B-1761 17
31	30		143B-1012 143B-1762 18
32	31		143B-1013 143B-1763 19
33	32		143B-1014 143B-1764 20
34	33		143B-1015 143B-1765 21
35	34		143B-1016 143B-1766 22
36	35		143B-1017 143B-1767 23
37	36		143B-1018 143B-1768 24
38	37		143B-1019 143B-1769 25
39	38		143B-1020 143B-1770 26
40	39		143B-1021 143B-1771 27
41	40		143B-1022 143B-1772 28
42	41		143B-1023 143B-1773 29
43	42		SECTION 4. Part 4 of Article 17 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes, as 30
44	43		recodified by Section 3 of this act, reads as rewritten: 31
45	44		"Part 4. North Carolina Center for Missing Persons. 32
46		-	"§ 143B-1760. North Carolina Center for Missing Persons established. 33 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
47		-	Page 2 House Bill 698-First Edition
48		-	There is established within the Department of Public Safety State Highway Patrol the North 1
49		-	Carolina Center for Missing Persons, which shall be organized and staffed in accordance with 2
50		-	applicable laws. The purpose of the Center is to serve as a central repository for information 3
51		-	regarding missing persons and missing children, with special emphasis on missing children. The 4
52		-	Center may utilize the Federal Bureau of Investigation/National Crime Information Center's 5
53		-	missing person computerized file (hereinafter referred to as FBI/NCIC) through the use of the 6
54		-	Police Information Network in the North Carolina Department of Justice. 7
55		-	… 8
56		-	"§ 143B-1762. Control of the Center. 9
57		-	The Center is under the direction of the Secretary of the Department of Public Safety 10
58		-	Commander of the State Highway Patrol and may be organized and structured in a manner as the 11
59		-	Secretary deems appropriate to ensure that the objectives of the Center are achieved. The 12
60		-	Secretary Commander may employ those Center personnel as the General Assembly may 13
61		-	authorize and provide funding for. 14
62		-	"§ 143B-1763. Secretary Commander to adopt rules. 15
63		-	The Secretary Commander of the State Highway Patrol shall adopt rules prescribing all of 16
64		-	the following: 17
65		-	(1) Procedures for accepting and disseminating information maintained at the 18
66		-	Center. 19
67		-	(2) The confidentiality of the data and information, including the missing person 20
68		-	report, maintained by the Center. 21
69		-	(3) The proper disposition of all obsolete data, including the missing person 22
70		-	report; provided, data for an individual who has reached the age of 18 and 23
71		-	remains missing must be preserved. 24
72		-	(4) Procedures allowing a communication link with the Police Information 25
73		-	Network and the FBI/NCIC's missing person file to ensure compliance with 26
74		-	FBI/NCIC policies. 27
75		-	(5) Forms, including but not limited to a missing person report, considered 28
76		-	necessary for the efficient and proper operation of the Center. 29
77		-	… 30
78		-	"§ 143B-1765. Dissemination of missing persons data by law-enforcement agencies. 31
79		-	… 32
80		-	If the report involves a missing child and the report meets the criteria established in 33
81		-	G.S. 143B-1021(b), G.S. 143B-1771(b), as soon as practicable after receipt of the report, the law 34
82		-	enforcement agency shall notify the Center and the National Center for Missing and Exploited 35
83		-	Children of the relevant data about the missing child. 36
	45	+	"§ 143B-1760. North Carolina Center for Missing Persons established. 33
	46	+	There is established within the Department of Public Safety State Highway Patrol the North 34
	47	+	Carolina Center for Missing Persons, which shall be organized and staffed in accordance with 35
	48	+	applicable laws. The purpose of the Center is to serve as a central repository for information 36
	49	+	H.B. 698
	50	+	Apr 2, 2025
	51	+	HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	52	+	Page 2 DRH10308-ND-90
	53	+	regarding missing persons and missing children, with special emphasis on missing children. The 1
	54	+	Center may utilize the Federal Bureau of Investigation/National Crime Information Center's 2
	55	+	missing person computerized file (hereinafter referred to as FBI/NCIC) through the use of the 3
	56	+	Police Information Network in the North Carolina Department of Justice. 4
	57	+	… 5
	58	+	"§ 143B-1762. Control of the Center. 6
	59	+	The Center is under the direction of the Secretary of the Department of Public Safety 7
	60	+	Commander of the State Highway Patrol and may be organized and structured in a manner as the 8
	61	+	Secretary deems appropriate to ensure that the objectives of the Center are achieved. The 9
	62	+	Secretary Commander may employ those Center personnel as the General Assembly may 10
	63	+	authorize and provide funding for. 11
	64	+	"§ 143B-1763. Secretary Commander to adopt rules. 12
	65	+	The Secretary Commander of the State Highway Patrol shall adopt rules prescribing all of 13
	66	+	the following: 14
	67	+	(1) Procedures for accepting and disseminating information maintained at the 15
	68	+	Center. 16
	69	+	(2) The confidentiality of the data and information, including the missing person 17
	70	+	report, maintained by the Center. 18
	71	+	(3) The proper disposition of all obsolete data, including the missing person 19
	72	+	report; provided, data for an individual who has reached the age of 18 and 20
	73	+	remains missing must be preserved. 21
	74	+	(4) Procedures allowing a communication link with the Police Information 22
	75	+	Network and the FBI/NCIC's missing person file to ensure compliance with 23
	76	+	FBI/NCIC policies. 24
	77	+	(5) Forms, including but not limited to a missing person report, considered 25
	78	+	necessary for the efficient and proper operation of the Center. 26
	79	+	… 27
	80	+	"§ 143B-1765. Dissemination of missing persons data by law-enforcement agencies. 28
	81	+	… 29
	82	+	If the report involves a missing child and the report meets the criteria established in 30
	83	+	G.S. 143B-1021(b), G.S. 143B-1771(b), as soon as practicable after receipt of the report, the law 31
	84	+	enforcement agency shall notify the Center and the National Center for Missing and Exploited 32
	85	+	Children of the relevant data about the missing child. 33
	86	+	… 34
	87	+	"§ 143B-1766. Responsibilities of Center. 35
	88	+	The Center shall do all of the following: 36
84	89		… 37
85		-	~~"§ 143B-1766. Responsibilities~~ of ~~Center.~~ 38
86		-	The ~~Center shall do all~~ of ~~the following:~~ 39
87		-	… 40
88		-	~~(9) Maintain a directory of existing public and private agencies, groups~~, and 41
89		-	~~individuals that provide effective assistance to families in~~ the ~~areas~~ of 42
90		-	~~prevention of child abduction, location of missing children and missing~~ 43
91		-	~~persons, and follow-up services to the child or person and family, as~~ 44
92		-	~~determined by~~ the Secretary of Public Safety.Commander ~~of the State~~ 45
93		-	Highway Patrol. 46
94		-	… 47
95		-	~~(13) Perform such other activities that the Secretary of Public Safety Commander~~ 48
96		-	~~of the State Highway Patrol considers necessary to carry out the intent~~ of ~~its~~ 49
97		-	~~mandate.~~ 50
	90	+	(9) Maintain a directory of existing public and private agencies, groups, and 38
	91	+	individuals that provide effective assistance to families in the areas of 39
	92	+	prevention of child abduction, location of missing children and missing 40
	93	+	persons, and follow-up services to the child or person and family, as 41
	94	+	determined by the Secretary of Public Safety.Commander of the State 42
	95	+	Highway Patrol. 43
	96	+	… 44
	97	+	(13) Perform such other activities that the Secretary of Public Safety Commander 45
	98	+	of the State Highway Patrol considers necessary to carry out the intent of its 46
	99	+	mandate. 47
	100	+	… 48
	101	+	"§ 143B-1768. Release of information by Center. 49
	102	+	The following may make inquiries of, and receive data or information from, the Center: 50
98	103		… 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
99		-	House Bill 698-First Edition Page 3
100		-	"§ 143B-1768. Release of information by Center. 1
101		-	The following may make inquiries of, and receive data or information from, the Center: 2
102		-	… 3
103		-	(4) Any person engaged in bona fide research when approved by the Secretary; 4
104		-	Commander of the State Highway Patrol; provided, no names or addresses 5
105		-	may be supplied to this person. 6
106		-	(5) Any other person authorized by the Secretary of the Department of Public 7
107		-	Safety Commander of the State Highway Patrol pursuant to 8
108		-	G.S. 143B-1013.G.S. 143B-1763. 9
109		-	"§ 143B-1769. Provision of toll-free service; instructions to callers; communication with 10
110		-	law-enforcement agencies. 11
111		-	The Center shall provide a toll-free telephone line for anyone to report the disappearance of 12
112		-	any individual or the sighting of any missing child or missing person. The Center personnel shall 13
113		-	instruct the caller, in the case of a report concerning the disappearance of an individual, of the 14
114		-	requirements contained in G.S. 143B-1014 G.S. 143B-1764 of first having to submit a missing 15
115		-	person report on the individual to the law-enforcement agency having jurisdiction of the area in 16
116		-	which the individual became or is believed to have become missing. Any law-enforcement 17
117		-	agency may retrieve information imparted to the Center by means of this phone line. The Center 18
118		-	shall directly communicate any report of a sighting of a missing person or a missing child to the 19
119		-	law-enforcement agency having jurisdiction in the area of disappearance or sighting. 20
120		-	"§ 143B-1770. Improper release of information; penalty. 21
121		-	Any person working under the supervision of the Director of Victims and Justice Services 22
122		-	who knowingly and willfully releases, or authorizes the release of, any data, information, or 23
123		-	records maintained or possessed by the Center to any agency, entity, or person other than as 24
124		-	specifically permitted by Subpart B this Part or in violation of any rule adopted by the Secretary 25
125		-	Commander of the State Highway Patrol is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. 26
126		-	"§ 143B-1771. North Carolina AMBER Alert System established. 27
127		-	(a) There is established within the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons the 28
128		-	AMBER Alert System. The purpose of AMBER Alert is to provide a statewide system for the 29
129		-	rapid dissemination of information regarding abducted children. 30
130		-	(b) The AMBER Alert System shall make every effort to disseminate information on 31
131		-	missing children as quickly as possible when all of the following criteria are met: 32
132		-	(1) The child is 17 years of age or younger;younger. 33
133		-	(2) The If abduction is not known or suspected to be by a parent of the child, 34
134		-	unless the child's life is must be suspected to be in imminent danger of serious 35
135		-	injury or death;death. 36
136		-	(3) The child is believed:believed (i) to have been abducted and (ii) to be in danger 37
137		-	of injury or death. 38
138		-	a. To have been abducted, or 39
139		-	b. To be in danger of injury or death; 40
140		-	(4) The child is not a runaway or voluntarily missing; andmissing. 41
141		-	(5) The abduction has been reported to and investigated by a law enforcement 42
142		-	agency. 43
143		-	If the abduction of the child is known or suspected to be by a parent of the child, the Center, 44
144		-	in its discretion, may disseminate information through the AMBER Alert System if the child is 45
145		-	believed to be in danger of injury or death. 46
146		-	… 47
147		-	(f) The Department of Public Safety, State Highway Patrol, on behalf of the Center, may 48
148		-	accept grants, contributions, devises, and gifts, which shall be kept in a separate fund, which shall 49
149		-	be nonreverting, and shall be used to fund the operations of the Center and the AMBER Alert 50
150		-	System. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
151		-	Page 4 House Bill 698-First Edition
152		-	"§ 143B-1772. North Carolina Missing Endangered System Silver Alert established. 1
153		-	(a) There is established within the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons the Missing 2
154		-	Endangered System. Silver Alert. The purpose of the Missing Endangered System Silver Alert 3
155		-	is to provide a statewide system for the rapid dissemination of information regarding a missing 4
156		-	person or missing child aged 65 or older who is believed to be suffering from dementia, 5
157		-	Alzheimer's disease, or a cognitive impairment that, in light of the person's or child's missing 6
158		-	status, requires the person or child to be protected from potential abuse or other physical harm, 7
159		-	neglect, or exploitation.that causes an irreversible deterioration of intellectual faculties that 8
160		-	makes them unable to meet their own needs or to seek help without assistance. 9
161		-	(b) If the Center or a law enforcement agency receives a request that involves a missing 10
162		-	person or missing child as described in subsection (a) of this section, and at the time of receipt 11
163		-	no more than 72 hours have passed since the person or child went missing, the Center or law 12
164		-	enforcement agency shall issue an alert providing for rapid dissemination of information 13
165		-	statewide regarding the missing person or missing child. person. The Center or law enforcement 14
166		-	agency shall make every effort to disseminate the information as quickly as possible when the 15
167		-	person's or child's status as missing has been reported to a law enforcement agency.agency, 16
168		-	including procedures for the use of the Wireless Emergency Alert. 17
169		-	(c) The Center and all law enforcement agencies shall adopt guidelines and develop 18
170		-	procedures for issuing an a 90-day alert for missing persons and missing children as described in 19
171		-	subsection (a) of this section and shall provide education and training to encourage radio and 20
172		-	television broadcasters to participate in the alert. The guidelines and procedures shall ensure that 21
173		-	specific health information about the missing person or missing child is not made public through 22
174		-	the alert or otherwise. 23
175		-	(d) The Center and all law enforcement agencies shall consult with the Department of 24
176		-	Transportation and develop a procedure for the use of overhead permanent changeable message 25
177		-	signs to provide information on the missing person or missing child meeting the criteria of this 26
178		-	section when information is available that would enable motorists to assist in the recovery of the 27
179		-	missing person or missing child. person. The Center and the Department of Transportation shall 28
180		-	develop guidelines for the content, length, and frequency of any message to be placed on an 29
181		-	overhead permanent changeable message sign. 30
182		-	"§ 143B-1773. North Carolina Blue Alert System established. 31
183		-	… 32
184		-	(c) The Center shall adopt guidelines and develop procedures for the statewide 33
185		-	implementation of the Blue Alert System and shall provide education and training to encourage 34
186		-	radio and television broadcasters to participate in the alert.alert, including procedures for the use 35
187		-	of the Emergency Alert System and the Wireless Emergency Alert. 36
188		-	… 37
189		-	"§ 143B-1774. North Carolina Missing Endangered Alert established. 38
190		-	(a) There is established within the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons the Missing 39
191		-	Endangered Alert. The purpose of the Missing Endangered Alert is to provide a statewide system 40
192		-	for the rapid dissemination of information regarding a missing person, aged 64 or younger, or 41
193		-	missing child who is believed to be suffering from dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or a cognitive 42
194		-	impairment that causes an irreversible deterioration of intellectual faculties that makes them 43
195		-	unable to meet their own needs or to seek help without assistance and that is not a risk to the 44
196		-	general public. 45
197		-	(b) If the Center receives a request that involves a missing person or missing child as 46
198		-	described in subsection (a) of this section, and at the time of receipt no more than 72 hours have 47
199		-	passed since the person or child went missing, the Center shall issue an alert providing for rapid 48
200		-	dissemination of information statewide regarding the missing person or missing child. The Center 49
201		-	shall make every effort to disseminate the information as quickly as possible when the person's 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
202		-	House Bill 698-First Edition Page 5
203		-	or child's status as missing has been reported to a law enforcement agency, including procedures 1
204		-	for the use of the Wireless Emergency Alert. 2
205		-	(c) The Center shall adopt guidelines and develop procedures for issuing a 90-day alert 3
206		-	for missing persons and missing children as described in subsection (a) of this section and shall 4
207		-	provide education and training to encourage radio and television broadcasters to participate in 5
208		-	the alert. The guidelines and procedures shall ensure that specific health information about the 6
209		-	missing person or missing child is not made public through the alert or otherwise. 7
210		-	(d) The Center shall consult with the Department of Transportation and develop a 8
211		-	procedure for the use of overhead permanent changeable message signs to provide information 9
212		-	on the missing person or missing child meeting the criteria of this section when information is 10
213		-	available that would enable motorists to assist in the recovery of the missing person or missing 11
214		-	child. The Center and the Department of Transportation shall develop guidelines for the content, 12
215		-	length, and frequency of any message to be placed on an overhead permanent changeable 13
216		-	message sign. 14
217		-	"§ 143B-1775. North Carolina Ashanti Alert established. 15
218		-	(a) There is established within the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons the Ashanti 16
219		-	Alert. The purpose of the Ashanti Alert is to provide a statewide system for the rapid 17
220		-	dissemination of information regarding a missing person over 18 years of age that is suspected 18
221		-	to have been abducted and there is both abductor and vehicle information available. 19
222		-	(b) If the Center receives a request that involves a missing person as described in 20
223		-	subsection (a) of this section, and at the time of receipt no more than 72 hours have passed since 21
224		-	the person went missing, the Center shall issue an alert providing for rapid dissemination of 22
225		-	information statewide regarding the missing person. The Center shall make every effort to 23
226		-	disseminate the information as quickly as possible when the person's status as missing has been 24
227		-	reported to a law enforcement agency, including procedures for the use of the Emergency Alert 25
228		-	System and the Wireless Emergency Alert. 26
229		-	(c) The Center shall adopt guidelines and develop procedures for issuing a 24-hour alert 27
230		-	for missing persons as described in subsection (a) of this section and shall provide education and 28
231		-	training to encourage radio and television broadcasters to participate in the alert. 29
232		-	(d) The Center shall consult with the Department of Transportation and develop a 30
233		-	procedure for the use of overhead permanent changeable message signs to provide information 31
234		-	on the missing person or missing child meeting the criteria of this section when information is 32
235		-	available that would enable motorists to assist in the recovery of the missing person or missing 33
236		-	child. The Center and the Department of Transportation shall develop guidelines for the content, 34
237		-	length, and frequency of any message to be placed on an overhead permanent changeable 35
238		-	message sign. 36
239		-	"§ 143B-1776. North Carolina Missing – Weather Alert established. 37
240		-	(a) There is established within the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons the Missing 38
241		-	– Weather Alert. The purpose of the Missing – Weather Alert is to provide a statewide system 39
242		-	for the rapid dissemination of information regarding a missing person or child that is missing 40
243		-	during times of extreme heat or cold and is not in a vehicle, or immediately following a significant 41
244		-	weather event. 42
245		-	(b) If the Center receives a request that involves a missing person as described in 43
246		-	subsection (a) of this section, and at the time of receipt no more than 72 hours have passed since 44
247		-	the person went missing, the Center shall issue an alert providing for rapid dissemination of 45
248		-	information statewide regarding the missing person. The Center shall make every effort to 46
249		-	disseminate the information as quickly as possible, including procedures for the use of the 47
250		-	Wireless Emergency Alert. 48
251		-	(c) The Center shall adopt guidelines and develop procedures for issuing a 30-day alert 49
252		-	for missing persons as described in subsection (a) of this section and shall provide education and 50
253		-	training to encourage radio and television broadcasters to participate in the alert." 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
254		-	Page 6 House Bill 698-First Edition
255		-	SECTION 5. The State Highway Patrol shall adopt rules, or amendments to rules, 1
256		-	consistent with the provisions of this act. The State Highway Patrol may use the procedure set 2
257		-	forth in G.S. 150B-21.1 to adopt or amend any rules as required under this section. 3
258		-	SECTION 6. This act is effective when it becomes law. 4
	104	+	DRH10308-ND-90 Page 3
	105	+	(4) Any person engaged in bona fide research when approved by the Secretary; 1
	106	+	Commander of the State Highway Patrol; provided, no names or addresses 2
	107	+	may be supplied to this person. 3
	108	+	(5) Any other person authorized by the Secretary of the Department of Public 4
	109	+	Safety Commander of the State Highway Patrol pursuant to 5
	110	+	G.S. 143B-1013.G.S. 143B-1763. 6
	111	+	"§ 143B-1769. Provision of toll-free service; instructions to callers; communication with 7
	112	+	law-enforcement agencies. 8
	113	+	The Center shall provide a toll-free telephone line for anyone to report the disappearance of 9
	114	+	any individual or the sighting of any missing child or missing person. The Center personnel shall 10
	115	+	instruct the caller, in the case of a report concerning the disappearance of an individual, of the 11
	116	+	requirements contained in G.S. 143B-1014 G.S. 143B-1764 of first having to submit a missing 12
	117	+	person report on the individual to the law-enforcement agency having jurisdiction of the area in 13
	118	+	which the individual became or is believed to have become missing. Any law-enforcement 14
	119	+	agency may retrieve information imparted to the Center by means of this phone line. The Center 15
	120	+	shall directly communicate any report of a sighting of a missing person or a missing child to the 16
	121	+	law-enforcement agency having jurisdiction in the area of disappearance or sighting. 17
	122	+	"§ 143B-1770. Improper release of information; penalty. 18
	123	+	Any person working under the supervision of the Director of Victims and Justice Services 19
	124	+	who knowingly and willfully releases, or authorizes the release of, any data, information, or 20
	125	+	records maintained or possessed by the Center to any agency, entity, or person other than as 21
	126	+	specifically permitted by Subpart B this Part or in violation of any rule adopted by the Secretary 22
	127	+	Commander of the State Highway Patrol is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. 23
	128	+	"§ 143B-1771. North Carolina AMBER Alert System established. 24
	129	+	(a) There is established within the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons the 25
	130	+	AMBER Alert System. The purpose of AMBER Alert is to provide a statewide system for the 26
	131	+	rapid dissemination of information regarding abducted children. 27
	132	+	(b) The AMBER Alert System shall make every effort to disseminate information on 28
	133	+	missing children as quickly as possible when all of the following criteria are met: 29
	134	+	(1) The child is 17 years of age or younger;younger. 30
	135	+	(2) The If abduction is not known or suspected to be by a parent of the child, 31
	136	+	unless the child's life is must be suspected to be in imminent danger of serious 32
	137	+	injury or death;death. 33
	138	+	(3) The child is believed:believed (i) to have been abducted and (ii) to be in danger 34
	139	+	of injury or death. 35
	140	+	a. To have been abducted, or 36
	141	+	b. To be in danger of injury or death; 37
	142	+	(4) The child is not a runaway or voluntarily missing; andmissing. 38
	143	+	(5) The abduction has been reported to and investigated by a law enforcement 39
	144	+	agency. 40
	145	+	If the abduction of the child is known or suspected to be by a parent of the child, the Center, 41
	146	+	in its discretion, may disseminate information through the AMBER Alert System if the child is 42
	147	+	believed to be in danger of injury or death. 43
	148	+	… 44
	149	+	(f) The Department of Public Safety, State Highway Patrol, on behalf of the Center, may 45
	150	+	accept grants, contributions, devises, and gifts, which shall be kept in a separate fund, which shall 46
	151	+	be nonreverting, and shall be used to fund the operations of the Center and the AMBER Alert 47
	152	+	System. 48
	153	+	"§ 143B-1772. North Carolina Missing Endangered System Silver Alert established. 49
	154	+	(a) There is established within the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons the Missing 50
	155	+	Endangered System. Silver Alert. The purpose of the Missing Endangered System Silver Alert 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	156	+	Page 4 DRH10308-ND-90
	157	+	is to provide a statewide system for the rapid dissemination of information regarding a missing 1
	158	+	person or missing child aged 65 or older who is believed to be suffering from dementia, 2
	159	+	Alzheimer's disease, or a cognitive impairment that, in light of the person's or child's missing 3
	160	+	status, requires the person or child to be protected from potential abuse or other physical harm, 4
	161	+	neglect, or exploitation.that causes an irreversible deterioration of intellectual faculties that 5
	162	+	makes them unable to meet their own needs or to seek help without assistance. 6
	163	+	(b) If the Center or a law enforcement agency receives a request that involves a missing 7
	164	+	person or missing child as described in subsection (a) of this section, and at the time of receipt 8
	165	+	no more than 72 hours have passed since the person or child went missing, the Center or law 9
	166	+	enforcement agency shall issue an alert providing for rapid dissemination of information 10
	167	+	statewide regarding the missing person or missing child. person. The Center or law enforcement 11
	168	+	agency shall make every effort to disseminate the information as quickly as possible when the 12
	169	+	person's or child's status as missing has been reported to a law enforcement agency.agency, 13
	170	+	including procedures for the use of the Wireless Emergency Alert. 14
	171	+	(c) The Center and all law enforcement agencies shall adopt guidelines and develop 15
	172	+	procedures for issuing an a 90-day alert for missing persons and missing children as described in 16
	173	+	subsection (a) of this section and shall provide education and training to encourage radio and 17
	174	+	television broadcasters to participate in the alert. The guidelines and procedures shall ensure that 18
	175	+	specific health information about the missing person or missing child is not made public through 19
	176	+	the alert or otherwise. 20
	177	+	(d) The Center and all law enforcement agencies shall consult with the Department of 21
	178	+	Transportation and develop a procedure for the use of overhead permanent changeable message 22
	179	+	signs to provide information on the missing person or missing child meeting the criteria of this 23
	180	+	section when information is available that would enable motorists to assist in the recovery of the 24
	181	+	missing person or missing child. person. The Center and the Department of Transportation shall 25
	182	+	develop guidelines for the content, length, and frequency of any message to be placed on an 26
	183	+	overhead permanent changeable message sign. 27
	184	+	"§ 143B-1773. North Carolina Blue Alert System established. 28
	185	+	… 29
	186	+	(c) The Center shall adopt guidelines and develop procedures for the statewide 30
	187	+	implementation of the Blue Alert System and shall provide education and training to encourage 31
	188	+	radio and television broadcasters to participate in the alert.alert, including procedures for the use 32
	189	+	of the Emergency Alert System and the Wireless Emergency Alert. 33
	190	+	… 34
	191	+	"§ 143B-1774. North Carolina Missing Endangered Alert established. 35
	192	+	(a) There is established within the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons the Missing 36
	193	+	Endangered Alert. The purpose of the Missing Endangered Alert is to provide a statewide system 37
	194	+	for the rapid dissemination of information regarding a missing person, aged 64 or younger, or 38
	195	+	missing child who is believed to be suffering from dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or a cognitive 39
	196	+	impairment that causes an irreversible deterioration of intellectual faculties that makes them 40
	197	+	unable to meet their own needs or to seek help without assistance and that is not a risk to the 41
	198	+	general public. 42
	199	+	(b) If the Center receives a request that involves a missing person or missing child as 43
	200	+	described in subsection (a) of this section, and at the time of receipt no more than 72 hours have 44
	201	+	passed since the person or child went missing, the Center shall issue an alert providing for rapid 45
	202	+	dissemination of information statewide regarding the missing person or missing child. The Center 46
	203	+	shall make every effort to disseminate the information as quickly as possible when the person's 47
	204	+	or child's status as missing has been reported to a law enforcement agency, including procedures 48
	205	+	for the use of the Wireless Emergency Alert. 49
	206	+	(c) The Center shall adopt guidelines and develop procedures for issuing a 90-day alert 50
	207	+	for missing persons and missing children as described in subsection (a) of this section and shall 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	208	+	DRH10308-ND-90 Page 5
	209	+	provide education and training to encourage radio and television broadcasters to participate in 1
	210	+	the alert. The guidelines and procedures shall ensure that specific health information about the 2
	211	+	missing person or missing child is not made public through the alert or otherwise. 3
	212	+	(d) The Center shall consult with the Department of Transportation and develop a 4
	213	+	procedure for the use of overhead permanent changeable message signs to provide information 5
	214	+	on the missing person or missing child meeting the criteria of this section when information is 6
	215	+	available that would enable motorists to assist in the recovery of the missing person or missing 7
	216	+	child. The Center and the Department of Transportation shall develop guidelines for the content, 8
	217	+	length, and frequency of any message to be placed on an overhead permanent changeable 9
	218	+	message sign. 10
	219	+	"§ 143B-1775. North Carolina Ashanti Alert established. 11
	220	+	(a) There is established within the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons the Ashanti 12
	221	+	Alert. The purpose of the Ashanti Alert is to provide a statewide system for the rapid 13
	222	+	dissemination of information regarding a missing person over 18 years of age that is suspected 14
	223	+	to have been abducted and there is both abductor and vehicle information available. 15
	224	+	(b) If the Center receives a request that involves a missing person as described in 16
	225	+	subsection (a) of this section, and at the time of receipt no more than 72 hours have passed since 17
	226	+	the person went missing, the Center shall issue an alert providing for rapid dissemination of 18
	227	+	information statewide regarding the missing person. The Center shall make every effort to 19
	228	+	disseminate the information as quickly as possible when the person's status as missing has been 20
	229	+	reported to a law enforcement agency, including procedures for the use of the Emergency Alert 21
	230	+	System and the Wireless Emergency Alert. 22
	231	+	(c) The Center shall adopt guidelines and develop procedures for issuing a 24-hour alert 23
	232	+	for missing persons as described in subsection (a) of this section and shall provide education and 24
	233	+	training to encourage radio and television broadcasters to participate in the alert. 25
	234	+	(d) The Center shall consult with the Department of Transportation and develop a 26
	235	+	procedure for the use of overhead permanent changeable message signs to provide information 27
	236	+	on the missing person or missing child meeting the criteria of this section when information is 28
	237	+	available that would enable motorists to assist in the recovery of the missing person or missing 29
	238	+	child. The Center and the Department of Transportation shall develop guidelines for the content, 30
	239	+	length, and frequency of any message to be placed on an overhead permanent changeable 31
	240	+	message sign. 32
	241	+	"§ 143B-1776. North Carolina Missing – Weather Alert established. 33
	242	+	(a) There is established within the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons the Missing 34
	243	+	– Weather Alert. The purpose of the Missing – Weather Alert is to provide a statewide system 35
	244	+	for the rapid dissemination of information regarding a missing person or child that is missing 36
	245	+	during times of extreme heat or cold and is not in a vehicle, or immediately following a significant 37
	246	+	weather event. 38
	247	+	(b) If the Center receives a request that involves a missing person as described in 39
	248	+	subsection (a) of this section, and at the time of receipt no more than 72 hours have passed since 40
	249	+	the person went missing, the Center shall issue an alert providing for rapid dissemination of 41
	250	+	information statewide regarding the missing person. The Center shall make every effort to 42
	251	+	disseminate the information as quickly as possible, including procedures for the use of the 43
	252	+	Wireless Emergency Alert. 44
	253	+	(c) The Center shall adopt guidelines and develop procedures for issuing a 30-day alert 45
	254	+	for missing persons as described in subsection (a) of this section and shall provide education and 46
	255	+	training to encourage radio and television broadcasters to participate in the alert." 47
	256	+	SECTION 5. The State Highway Patrol shall adopt rules, or amendments to rules, 48
	257	+	consistent with the provisions of this act. The State Highway Patrol may use the procedure set 49
	258	+	forth in G.S. 150B-21.1 to adopt or amend any rules as required under this section. 50
	259	+	SECTION 6. This act is effective when it becomes law. 51