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34 U.S.C. § 20502Minimum standards for issuance and dissemination of alerts through AMBER Alert communications network

submitted 23 years ago by Pub. L. 108-21 to r/title-34-CRIME-CONTROL-AND-LAW-ENFORCEMENT · 271 words · no verdicts yet

in plain englishAI-generated · not legal advice

This law lets the AMBER Alert Coordinator set voluntary minimum standards for when and how widely alerts get issued, while working with local agencies and never overriding their voluntary cooperation with broadcasters.

(a) Setting standards. Subject to subsection (b), the Coordinator must set minimum standards for (1) issuing alerts through the AMBER Alert network, and (2) how widely those alerts get shared. (b) Limits on those standards. (1) These standards can only be adopted voluntarily — no one is forced to follow them. (2) As much as practical, in consultation with state, territorial, tribal, and local law enforcement, the standards must help make sure information about an abducted child's special needs, including health needs, reaches the right law enforcement, public health, and other officials. (3) As much as practical, with that same consultation, the standards must help limit an alert's distribution to the geographic areas most likely to help find the child. (4) The Coordinator cannot interfere with the existing voluntary coordination system between local broadcasters and state, territorial, tribal, and local law enforcement for the AMBER Alert network. (c) Cooperation. (1) The Coordinator must cooperate with the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the FCC in carrying out this section. (2) The Coordinator must also cooperate with local broadcasters and state, territorial, tribal, and local law enforcement in setting these standards.
the actual law source: uscode.house.gov ↗public domain
(a) Establishment of minimum standards

Subject to subsection (b), the AMBER Alert Coordinator of the Department of Justice shall establish minimum standards for—

(1)

the issuance of alerts through the AMBER Alert communications network; and

(2)

the extent of the dissemination of alerts issued through the network.

(b) Limitations
(1)

The minimum standards established under subsection (a) shall be adoptable on a voluntary basis only.

(2)

The minimum standards shall, to the maximum extent practicable (as determined by the Coordinator in consultation with State, territorial, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies), provide that appropriate information relating to the special needs of an abducted child (including health care needs) are disseminated to the appropriate law enforcement, public health, and other public officials.

(3)

The minimum standards shall, to the maximum extent practicable (as determined by the Coordinator in consultation with State, territorial, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies), provide that the dissemination of an alert through the AMBER Alert communications network be limited to the geographic areas most likely to facilitate the recovery of the abducted child concerned.

(4)

In carrying out activities under subsection (a), the Coordinator may not interfere with the current system of voluntary coordination between local broadcasters and State, territorial, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies for purposes of the AMBER Alert communications network.

(c) Cooperation
(1)

The Coordinator shall cooperate with the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Federal Communications Commission in carrying out activities under this section.

(2)

The Coordinator shall also cooperate with local broadcasters and State, territorial, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies in establishing minimum standards under this section.

Source credit: (Pub. L. 108–21, title III, § 302, Apr. 30, 2003, 117 Stat. 661; Pub. L. 116–283, div. H, title C, § 10001(a)(2), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4861.)

history & why it existsrecord from the source credit
  • 2003Enacted · Pub. L. 108-21 · 117 Stat. 661
  • 2021Amended · Pub. L. 116-283 · 134 Stat. 4861

A history note hasn’t been published yet. The record shows enactment by Pub. L. 108-21 on 2003-04-30.

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