Alabama § 26-19A-4 - Missing and Endangered Persons Alert - When Activated.

§ 26-19A-4. Missing and Endangered Persons Alert - When Activated.

(a) A missing and endangered persons alert shall be activated by the department when an individual is reported missing, lost, or abducted, and an investigation reveals the following:

(1) The individual is living with a mental disability, physical disability, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or autism and is at risk of bodily harm or death or the individual has been abducted and the department has a reasonable belief that the individual is at risk of bodily harm or death.

(2)a. There is enough descriptive information about the individual to believe an immediate media alert would help investigators locate the individual.

b. For an individual living with a mental disability, physical disability, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or autism, a statement from a caregiver that the individual lives with a mental disability, physical disability, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or autism shall be considered sufficient proof of the mental disability, physical disability, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or autism.

(b) A report of a missing and endangered person may be made by a local law enforcement agency to the department as soon as a concerned party or caregiver believes the individual’s missing and the originating local law enforcement agency has entered identifying and descriptive information about the missing and endangered person to the Alabama Center for Missing and Exploited Children and to the National Crime Information Center pursuant to Section 26-19-7. Upon the submission of the report, a search in the missing and endangered person’s local area may begin immediately, and the department may expand the search to include areas outside of the missing and endangered person’s local area if needed.

(c) The department and local law enforcement agencies shall require law enforcement officers and other emergency personnel to complete first responder training for missing persons living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, if the training is available through the department, the Alabama Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Commission, or the free training and certification program offered by the Alzheimer’s Association. If a missing and endangered person report is made for an individual living with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, the department and local law enforcement agencies shall utilize, if available, personnel who have participated in this training to assist in conducting the search.