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CS/CS/SB 184 — Purple Alert
by Appropriations Committee; Transportation Committee; and Senator Berman
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Transportation Committee (TR)
The bill requires the Division of Emergency Management to identify and maintain an inventory of available digitally displayed automatic changeable facing signs capable of providing the immediate distribution of critical information to the public in times of declared emergency and regarding missing endangered persons.
Effective July 1, 2022, the bill also establishes criteria and processes for issuing Purple Alerts to assist in finding a missing adult:
- Who has a mental or cognitive disability that is not Alzheimer’s disease or a dementia-related disorder; an intellectual disability or a developmental disability; a brain injury; another physical, mental, or emotional disability that is not related to substance abuse; or a combination of any of these;
- Whose disappearance indicates a credible threat of immediate danger or serious bodily harm to himself or herself, as determined by the local law enforcement agency;
- Who cannot be returned to safety without law enforcement intervention; and
- Who does not meet the criteria for activation of a local Silver Alert or the Silver Alert Plan of the Department of Law Enforcement.
The bill provides the Florida Department of Law Enforcement with budget authority of $199,901 ($92,790 nonrecurring) in the Operating Trust Fund and 2 FTE in order to accommodate increased workload and make technology improvements.
If approved by the Governor, the provisions take effect July 1, 2021, except where otherwise provided.
Vote: Senate 40-0; House 116-1