00                      CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 59(MLV)                                                                     
01 "An Act relating to missing vulnerable adult prompt response and notification plans."                                   
02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
03    * Section 1. AS 44.35.020(a) is amended to read:                                                                   
04            (a)  The Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs shall                                                  
05                 (1)  conduct the military affairs of the state as prescribed by the                                     
06       Military Code;                                                                                                    
07                 (2)  cooperate with the federal government in matters of mutual                                         
08       concern pertaining to the welfare of Alaskan veterans, including establishing,                                    
09       extending, or strengthening services for veterans in the state; [AND]                                             
10                 (3)  annually, not later than February 1, make available a report to the                                
11       legislature, through the governor, outlining the department's activities during the                               
12       previous calendar year; the department shall notify the legislature that the report is                            
13       available; and                                                                                                
14                 (4)  cooperate with the Department of Public Safety to develop and                                  
15       implement missing vulnerable adult prompt response and notification plans                                     

01       under AS 44.41.060.                                                                                           
02    * Sec. 2. AS 44.41 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                     
03            Sec. 44.41.060. Missing vulnerable adult prompt response and notification                                  
04       plans. (a) The Department of Public Safety, in cooperation with the Department of                               
05       Military and Veterans' Affairs, shall, using statewide and local radio and television                             
06       broadcasts, newspapers, and other communications media,                                                           
07                 (1)  develop and implement missing vulnerable adult prompt response                                     
08       and notification plans for use by law enforcement agencies, groups, and persons to                                
09       locate a vulnerable adult who is missing; and                                                                     
10                 (2)  coordinate the use of those plans.                                                                 
11            (b)  The plans required by (a) of this section must at least include standards for                           
12                 (1)  determining when and where to implement a plan; standards                                          
13       developed under this paragraph must at least address                                                              
14                      (A)  when a vulnerable adult will be considered missing; and                                       
15                      (B)  the format, contents, and distribution of reports prepared by                                 
16            participating law enforcement agencies and others searching for a missing                                    
17            vulnerable adult; and                                                                                        
18                 (2)  voluntary participation in the plan by radio and television                                        
19       broadcasters, newspaper publishers, and owners and operators of other                                             
20       communications media.                                                                                             
21            (c)  Notwithstanding another provision of law, a radio or television                                         
22       broadcaster, a newspaper publisher, or an owner or operator of other communications                               
23       media is not civilly liable for participating in a missing vulnerable adult prompt                                
24       response and notification plan or for participating in the actual implementation of a                             
25       plan if the broadcaster, publisher, or owner or operator has verified the authenticity of                         
26       the plan's implementation with the law enforcement agency.                                                        
27            (d)  In this section, "vulnerable adult" means a person 18 years of age or older                             
28       who, because of physical or mental impairment, is unable to meet the person's own                                 
29       needs or to seek help without assistance.