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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the circumstances under which the Department of Public |
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Safety may issue a silver alert for a missing senior citizen. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 411.383(b), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) The director shall adopt rules and issue directives as |
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necessary to ensure proper implementation of the alert. The rules |
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and directives must include: |
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(1) the procedures to be used by a local law |
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enforcement agency to verify whether a senior citizen: |
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(A) is missing; and |
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(B) has an impaired mental condition; |
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(2) a description of the circumstances under which a |
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local law enforcement agency is required or authorized to report a |
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missing senior citizen to the department; and |
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(3) the procedures to be used by an individual or |
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entity to report information about a missing senior citizen to |
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designated media outlets in Texas. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter M, Chapter 411, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 411.3865 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 411.3865. MISSING SENIOR CITIZEN IN IMMINENT DANGER. |
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The director shall adopt rules authorizing a local law enforcement |
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agency to request the issuance of an alert under this subchapter for |
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a missing senior citizen whose life may be in imminent danger, |
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regardless of whether the agency is able to verify the information |
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otherwise required by Section 411.386(a)(2). |
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SECTION 3. Section 411.387(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) When a local law enforcement agency provides notice of a |
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missing senior citizen to [notifies] the department under Section |
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411.386 or 411.3865, the department shall confirm the accuracy of |
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the information provided with the notice and, if confirmed, |
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immediately issue an alert under this subchapter in accordance with |
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department rules. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |