Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

Rhode Island House Bill H6165 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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5	5	2025 -- H 6165
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7	7	LC002589
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9	9	S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
10	10	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
11	11	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
12	12	____________
13	13
14	14	A N A C T
15	15	RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- STATE POLICE
16	16	Introduced By: Representatives Spears, Noret, McEntee, Read, Cotter, Craven, Fogarty,
17	17	Hull, Tanzi, and Felix
18	18	Date Introduced: April 02, 2025
19	19	Referred To: House State Government & Elections
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22	22	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
23	23	SECTION 1. Chapter 42-28 of the General Laws entitled "State Police" is hereby amended 1
24	24	by adding thereto the following sections: 2
25	25	42-28-3.7. PURPLE alert. 3
26	26	(a) In the case of a missing adult with serious or substantial physical, behavioral health, 4
27	27	neurological disability, or condition that objectively establishes concerns for the immediate safety 5
28	28	and wellbeing of the missing person, the first few hours are critical in finding such person. 6
29	29	(b) The division of state police, in consultation with other appropriate agencies, including 7
30	30	without limitation, the department of health, shall develop a voluntary partnership among law 8
31	31	enforcement agencies, media outlets and other appropriate entities to send out emergency alerts 9
32	32	entitled the “PURPLE alert program.” 10
33	33	(c) For purposes of §§ 42-28-3.7 and 42-28-3.8, a “PURPLE alert citizen” means a person: 11
34	34	(1) Whose whereabouts are unknown; 12
35	35	(2) Whose domicile at the time the person is reported missing is Rhode Island; 13
36	36	(3) Whose age at the time the person is reported missing is eighteen (18) years of age or 14
37	37	older; 15
38	38	(4) Who has a serious or substantial physical, behavioral health, neurological disability, or 16
39	39	condition that objectively establishes concerns for the immediate safety and wellbeing of the 17
40	40	missing person; and 18
41	41	(5) Whose disappearance poses a credible threat to the safety and health of such person, as 19
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45	45	determined by the state police or other law enforcement agency. 1
46	46	(d) The serious physical, behavioral health, neurological disability or condition shall be 2
47	47	demonstrated by the appropriate documentation presented by the missing person’s family, legal 3
48	48	guardian, long-term care ombudsman, or long-term care facility where such person resides. 4
49	49	(e) The purple alert program shall provide a proactive emergency public alert plan as part 5
50	50	of the response to the disappearance of a missing adult with a serious physical, behavioral health, 6
51	51	neurological disability or condition that may be expediently triggered by law enforcement 7
52	52	personnel in accordance with protocols and procedures established by the division of state police 8
53	53	in consultation with appropriate law enforcement authorities, the Rhode Island emergency 9
54	54	management agency, the department of health, state and local officials and cooperating members 10
55	55	of the broadcast media (“PURPLE alert”). 11
56	56	(f) If a law enforcement agency has confirmed the disappearance of a missing adult with 12
57	57	the above disability or conditions, the law enforcement agency shall obtain descriptive information 13
58	58	for the purple alert, contact the state police to provide the descriptive information to the state police 14
59	59	and identify a point of contact within its agency. 15
60	60	42-28-3.8. PURPLE alert procedures for protocol and implementation. 16
61	61	The division of state police shall establish protocols and procedures to implement a purple 17
62	62	alert. The protocols and procedures shall be updated as may be necessary in consultation with the 18
63	63	entities and agencies involved in the purple alert process to provide effective and efficient 19
64	64	procedures to assist law enforcement agencies, broadcast media and other cooperating agencies or 20
65	65	entities in providing an emergency alert to the public in response to a missing adult with a serious 21
66	66	physical, behavioral health, neurological disability or condition. 22
67	67	SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 23
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74	74	EXPLANATION
75	75	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
76	76	OF
77	77	A N A C T
78	78	RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- STATE POLICE
79	79	***
80	80	This act would create the PURPLE alert state system to aid in the search for a missing adult 1
81	81	with a serious physical, behavioral health, neurological disabilities or medical condition. 2
82	82	This act would take effect upon passage. 3
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84	84	LC002589
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