Revision: May 6, 2019, 9:11 a.m.
SB 239-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES
2019 SESSION
19-0862
08/03
SENATE BILL 239-FN
AN ACT relative to implementation of the blue alert system in New Hampshire.
SPONSORS: Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Rep. Fields, Belk. 4; Rep. Graham, Hills. 7
COMMITTEE: Transportation
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ANALYSIS
This bill establishes the blue alert system in New Hampshire.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
19-0862
08/03
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen
AN ACT relative to implementation of the blue alert system in New Hampshire.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Chapter; Blue Alert. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 106-L the following new chapter:
CHAPTER 106-M
BLUE ALERT
106-M:1 Definitions. In this chapter:
I. "Blue alert" means a notice provided under this chapter to the public through certain state agencies and the media.
II. "Blue alert program" means the statewide alert program regarding killed, injured, or missing law enforcement officers developed and implemented under this chapter.
III. "Division" means the division of state police.
IV. "Law enforcement officer" means a sheriff or deputy sheriff of any county, a state police officer, a constable or police officer of any city or town, an official or employee of any prison, jail, or corrections institution, a probation-parole officer, or a conservation officer.
V. "Media" means print, radio, Internet-based communication systems, or other methods of communicating information to the public.
106-M:2 Blue Alert Program Established.
I. There is established the blue alert program in the division of state police. The blue alert program shall be developed and implemented using existing resources and activated when, in the line of duty, a law enforcement officer has been killed or injured, or is missing, there is sufficient information available regarding the law enforcement officer's last known location or physical description of an offender or vehicle involved and the department determines that a public notification may aid in:
(a) Apprehending a suspected offender who poses an imminent threat to the public or law enforcement personnel; or
(b) Locating a missing law enforcement officer.
II. The division of state police shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A relative to:
(a) Standards of procedure for local law enforcement agencies to determine that a condition in paragraph I exists and to notify the division to activate a blue alert.
(b) A plan for providing relevant information to the public through an existing system of dynamic message signs located across the state when necessary.
(c) Any other procedures necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
19-0862
1/18/19
SB 239-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to implementation of the blue alert system in New Hampshire.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
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| Estimated Increase / (Decrease) | |||
STATE: | FY 2020 | FY 2021 | FY 2022 | FY 2023 |
Appropriation | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Expenditures | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase |
Funding Source: | [ X ] General [ ] Education [ X ] Highway [ X ] Other - Turnpike | |||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill establishes a blue alert system in New Hampshire to disseminate information when a law enforcement officer has been killed, injured, or missing in the line of duty. The blue alert system would be similar to the already implemented “Amber Alert” system. Therefore, the Department of Safety reports this bill will not increase expenditures to fulfill the infrastructure and system requirements needed to implement this bill. However, the state will need to undergo efforts to develop policies and procedures for the blue alert system and train law enforcement agencies. Additionally, the system would be staffed by a liaison 24 hours a day. If a blue alert occurred, while the liaison was on-call, but off-duty, the liaison would need to respond to the alert and potentially receive overtime compensation. Since the number of alerts cannot be anticipated, the potential increase in overtime expenditures would be by an indeterminable amount.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Safety