MI AMBER ALERT ACT; CHILD ABDUCTION BROADCAST ACT
House Bill 6444
Sponsor: Rep. Nancy Cassis
House Bill 6445
Sponsor: Rep. Laura Toy
Committee: Family and Children Services
Complete to 10-3-02
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILLS 6444 AND 6445 AS INTRODUCED 9-24-02
House Bills 6444 and 6445 would create the Michigan Amber Alert Act and the Child Abduction Broadcast Act, respectively. The bills are tie-barred to each other.
House Bill 6444. Under the bill, the Department of State Police (MSP) would be required to establish and maintain the Michigan Amber Alert plan. The plan would be designed to rapidly disseminate useful information, in a predetermined manner, to radio and television stations within the state. The plan would not be activated unless a law enforcement agency confirmed that a child had been abducted and the agency believed that the child was in danger of serious bodily harm or death, and there existed sufficient descriptive information regarding the child and the abductor so that the dissemination of such information would aid in locating the child or the abductor.
House Bill 6445. Under the bill, a radio or television station that received information regarding a child abduction from the MSP in accordance with the Michigan Amber Alert Act could broadcast that information in any manner to assist in the location of the child or the apprehension of a suspect. The information broadcast would include all of the information provided by the MSP. Further, the MSP and the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, in accordance with an agreed upon method, would provide the information to predetermined stations.
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.