<enum>I</enum><header>Grants</header>

Establishment of Ashanti Alert communications network

Kristen's Act (Public Law 106–468; 114 Stat. 2027) is amended—(1)by inserting before section 2 (34 U.S.C. 40504) the following:

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(2)by redesignating sections 2 (34 U.S.C. 40504) and 3 (34 U.S.C. 40504 note) as sections 101 and 102, respectively;(3)in section 101(b), as so redesignated, by striking this Act and inserting this title;(4)in section 102, as so redesignated, by striking this Act and inserting this title; and(5)by adding at the end the following:

<enum>II</enum><header>Ashanti Alert communications network</header><section id="H551FAAD0C5FF4806AC9F4C197070C342"><enum>201.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text><paragraph id="idEDBF5F500257406B895CEE5CFAA9CB94"><enum>(1)</enum><header>AMBER alert communications network</header><text>The term <term>AMBER Alert communications network</term> means the AMBER Alert communications network established under subtitle A of title III of the PROTECT Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/34/20501">34 U.S.C. 20501</external-xref> et seq.).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HEF36498FAD5A4604A29F5DE7E019ACD6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Ashanti Alert</header><text>The term <term>Ashanti Alert</term> means an alert issued through the Ashanti Alert communications network, related to a missing adult.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id138D679449D5452DA6732B71109FA647"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Ashanti Alert communications network</header><text>The term <term>Ashanti Alert communications network</term> means the national communications network established by the Attorney General under section 202(a).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id558783B4F7E849BABABE829037F6A16B"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Ashanti Alert Coordinator of the Department of Justice; Coordinator</header><text>The term <term>Ashanti Alert Coordinator of the Department of Justice</term> or <term>Coordinator</term> means the employee designated by the Attorney General to act as the national coordinator of the Ashanti Alert communications network under section 203(a).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5F668BAC531E44CD9F1A89D4D05860A7"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Ashanti Alert plan</header><text>The term <term>Ashanti Alert plan</term> means a local element of the Ashanti Alert communications network.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id42AE599D3D3E4EB29D7B2F65E3C884FC"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Indian Tribe</header><text>The term <term>Indian Tribe</term> means a federally recognized Indian Tribe or a Native village, Regional Corporation, or Village Corporation (as those terms are defined in section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1602">43 U.S.C. 1602</external-xref>)).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H0111991F608B48E9A83AAA6BDAD3F55C"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Missing adult</header><text>The term <term>missing adult</term> means an individual who—</text><subparagraph id="H213907078C09465495D3588B46862541"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is older than the age for which an alert may be issued through the AMBER Alert communications network in the State or territory of an Indian Tribe in which the individual is identified as a missing individual;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEDBEDC9E41D842198C05D354458CDB80"><enum>(B)</enum><text>is identified by a law enforcement agency as a missing individual; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCED979CD996B4365BFB5CDDDE254E90D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>meets the requirements to be designated as a missing adult, as determined by the State in which, or the Indian Tribe in the territory of which, the individual is identified as a missing individual.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HAA0249E20C04496383CD07F2E0A50281"><enum>(8)</enum><header>State</header><text>The term <term>State</term> means each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.</text></paragraph></section><section id="HDAC128E799D4495085FD8658C1FF2BA9"><enum>202.</enum><header>Ashanti Alert communications network</header><subsection id="H544ED64AA4F340988A8F76A3B0D2B405"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Attorney General shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, establish a national communications network within the Office of Justice Programs of the Department of Justice to provide assistance to regional and local search efforts for missing adults through the initiation, facilitation, and promotion of local elements of the network, in coordination with States, Indian Tribes, units of local government, law enforcement agencies, and other concerned entities with expertise in providing services to adults.</text></subsection><subsection id="H1B37E941970446328A0B014738CFCAB0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Integration with existing communications network</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In establishing the Ashanti Alert communications network under subsection (a), the Attorney General shall coordinate, when advisable, with missing person alert systems in existence as of the date of enactment of this title, such as the AMBER Alert communications network and Silver Alert communications networks.</text></subsection></section><section id="H98A0C74238234EE5B2F071E85F0A4BC5"><enum>203.</enum><header>Ashanti Alert coordinator</header><subsection id="H2874F3CF0E53489EB5C190059062E08A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>National coordinator within Department of Justice</header><text>The Attorney General shall designate an employee of the Office of Justice Programs of the Department of Justice to act as the national coordinator of the Ashanti Alert communications network.</text></subsection><subsection id="HAB3F38BEBB0C474DBAA321782EB82FB4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Duties of the Coordinator</header><text>In acting as the national coordinator of the Ashanti Alert communications network, the Coordinator shall—</text><paragraph id="H50BDB56BB7444375A3E0301D16F63B6A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>work with States and Indian Tribes to encourage the development of additional Ashanti Alert plans in the network;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H83A547703EEC40E88A37BF85EACCC254"><enum>(2)</enum><text>establish voluntary guidelines for States and Indian Tribes to use in developing Ashanti Alert plans that will promote compatible and integrated Ashanti Alert plans throughout the United States, including—</text><subparagraph id="HD8D5F417161F40C7B12784F249CFC087"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a list of the resources necessary to establish an Ashanti Alert plan;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE9716B8798FD44E1B525EF9D14367341"><enum>(B)</enum><text>criteria for evaluating whether a situation warrants issuing an Ashanti Alert, taking into consideration the need for the use of Ashanti Alerts to be limited in scope because the effectiveness of the Ashanti Alert communications network may be affected by overuse, including criteria to determine—</text><clause id="H405CE2BA1A394925BB15E38C6D1C3943"><enum>(i)</enum><text>whether the mental capacity of an adult who is missing, and the circumstances of his or her disappearance, including any history of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, or human trafficking, warrant the issuance of an Ashanti Alert; and</text></clause><clause id="HC280FF550C5C416B8F1D44042799467B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>whether the individual who reports that an adult is missing is an appropriate and credible source on which to base the issuance of an Ashanti Alert;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H051AEAE6FD8D41F784D42F55A8E3235B"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a description of the appropriate uses of the Ashanti Alert name to readily identify the nature of search efforts for missing adults; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFDD1101D00B948B69A5AADCB66740C83"><enum>(D)</enum><text>recommendations on how to protect the privacy, dignity, independence, autonomy, and safety of any missing adult who may be the subject of an Ashanti Alert;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H5FE1D0552C8B48509D397E203C8A4FBE"><enum>(3)</enum><text>develop proposed protocols for efforts to recover missing adults and to reduce the number of adults who are reported missing, including protocols for procedures that are needed from the time of initial notification of a law enforcement agency that the adult is missing through the time of the return of the adult to family, guardian, or domicile, as appropriate, including—</text><subparagraph id="HDB86AE067EF14AF8AED0F4440AF37198"><enum>(A)</enum><text>public safety communications protocol;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7F929EFD7499498AB8B75EB6BFE1FB16"><enum>(B)</enum><text>case management protocol;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD5579B71C63644C5ACA15551D40B5F02"><enum>(C)</enum><text>command center operations;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H74EB6782685046F5A8A3934647CFB0E8"><enum>(D)</enum><text>reunification protocol;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE81A499825D54A23AA8A412EFABDC4E8"><enum>(E)</enum><text>incident review, evaluation, debriefing, and public information procedures; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE7DCA18CD0C04C2AB03C079D3CC16F90"><enum>(F)</enum><text>protocols for declining to issue an Ashanti Alert;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1A5A52BA4D084B04B60FE841EF4BABBC"><enum>(4)</enum><text>work with States and Indian Tribes to ensure appropriate regional coordination of various elements of the network;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H51657D3F21294A54863FB3F107D2292E"><enum>(5)</enum><text>establish an advisory group to assist States, Indian Tribes, units of local government, law enforcement agencies, and other entities involved in the Ashanti Alert communications network with initiating, facilitating, and promoting Ashanti Alert plans, which shall include—</text><subparagraph id="H3AA1956DE14D425AB3BDE45DE91E93AD"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to the maximum extent practicable, representation from the various geographic regions of the United States; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAA4B047380234A6BB33DC9DD36817915"><enum>(B)</enum><text>members who are—</text><clause id="H48B0AFE370A64AB08AD6476A396DC247"><enum>(i)</enum><text>representatives of adult citizen advocacy groups, law enforcement agencies, victim service providers (as defined in section 40002(a) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/34/12291">34 U.S.C. 12291(a)</external-xref>), and public safety communications;</text></clause><clause id="H1F88E3E46019400A8E617D7DBFAC565C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>broadcasters, first responders, dispatchers, and radio station personnel; and</text></clause><clause id="HCAE566E8AAEE45688E268CC91C218B77"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>representatives of any other individuals or organizations that the Coordinator determines are necessary to the success of the Ashanti Alert communications network; and</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H988C6927F4EC4CB490D50615AB4B0155"><enum>(6)</enum><text>act as the nationwide point of contact for—</text><subparagraph id="HB1AD01BFD8EA4F89BB306D68F6D3AB4A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the development of the network; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H38A99F179E8E470DBBFA2107F8F19BCD"><enum>(B)</enum><text>regional coordination of alerts for missing adults through the network.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H6B0AC74161654BBE9D857AD45A394362"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Coordination</header><paragraph id="H7D930E14FFF64F1E933F9594CF04EC4D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Coordination with other agencies</header><text>The Coordinator shall coordinate and consult with the Secretary of Transportation, the Federal Communications Commission, the Assistant Secretary for Aging of the Department of Health and Human Services, and other appropriate offices of the Department of Justice, including the Office on Violence Against Women, in carrying out activities under this title.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HDC99A72A831D4D318CF0CF8BD2AC4597"><enum>(2)</enum><header>State, Tribal, and local coordination</header><text>The Coordinator shall consult with local broadcasters and State, Tribal, and local law enforcement agencies in establishing minimum standards under section 204 and in carrying out other activities under this title, as appropriate.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H63780010586540A9A0B8F1A6BFDECCA1"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Annual reports</header><paragraph id="id9326AF8FB0B2473198F2228CCD5AE92D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this title, and annually thereafter, the Coordinator shall submit to Congress a report on—</text><subparagraph id="id037843D1175B474792F085E55636F937"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the activities of the Coordinator; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF3ACE331195F48289EDF1DB7068EA5BF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the effectiveness and status of the Ashanti Alert plan of each State or Indian Tribe that has established or is in the process of establishing such a plan.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id331045E91069429B8AFF04A3742017C4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>Each report under paragraph (1) shall include—</text><subparagraph id="HF5DAD54654C342969232699BBE6B4505"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a list of each State or Indian Tribe that has established an Ashanti Alert plan;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8FA4AB2AEDBC46B4BDF3759BE310EA48"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a list of each State or Indian Tribe that is in the process of establishing an Ashanti Alert plan;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H74C735D76B6344A593D083BA9D9DD45B"><enum>(C)</enum><text>for each State or Indian Tribe that has established an Ashanti Alert plan, to the extent the data is available—</text><clause id="H351EFEFBA5F6481782F40106293E2AAB"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the number of Ashanti Alerts issued;</text></clause><clause id="H3B0C24FE1E1A4DA4A851B85242D8EC6D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the number of missing adults located successfully;</text></clause><clause id="H9F3869933285467587B93A44F39B174C"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the average period of time between the issuance of an Ashanti Alert and the location of the missing adult for whom the Alert was issued;</text></clause><clause id="H02B5F06A04114CE6A4C7DEA748345253"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the State or Tribal agency or authority issuing Ashanti Alerts, and the process by which Ashanti Alerts are disseminated;</text></clause><clause id="H240317025B0B4C72A2DB5703629022BD"><enum>(v)</enum><text>the cost of establishing and operating the Ashanti Alert plan;</text></clause><clause id="H53B18028FB6E44C0805E5DB4576CD2C0"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>the criteria used by the State or Indian Tribe to determine whether to issue an Ashanti Alert; and</text></clause><clause id="HB19FF5DA81F54622B928616BFF572F0B"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>the extent to which missing adults for whom Ashanti Alerts were issued crossed State lines or territorial borders of an Indian Tribe;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD536C0FE4F5042CBA7F9506E8D27930F"><enum>(D)</enum><text>actions States and Indian Tribes have taken to protect the privacy and dignity of the missing adults for whom Ashanti Alerts are issued;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF32E6C5E66894D0CB028D2995382D6D0"><enum>(E)</enum><text>ways that States and Indian Tribes have facilitated and improved communication about missing adults between families, caregivers, law enforcement officials, and other authorities; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3D744E7633A64566B63C7A22B12A5F65"><enum>(F)</enum><text>any other information the Coordinator determines to be appropriate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H33479E4C6856475CA5C954BB33C430E1"><enum>204.</enum><header>Minimum standards for issuance and dissemination of alerts through Ashanti alert communications network</header><subsection id="H3FA90F0FD53245EBA9D799466EF5FC99"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment of minimum standards</header><text>Subject to subsection (b), the Coordinator shall establish minimum standards for—</text><paragraph id="HC3313261CA0D4BE2A67972DCFC1324C9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the issuance of alerts through the Ashanti Alert communications network; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HCFB67B1C1C8346EE93CA992D8A2CC903"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the extent of the dissemination of alerts issued through the Ashanti Alert communications network.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H812E9B01E876437DA22C40C0742932C2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Limitations</header><paragraph id="H4DEC8982161044E384355F2012135A89"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Dissemination of information</header><text>The minimum standards established under subsection (a) shall, to the maximum extent practicable (as determined by the Coordinator in consultation with State, Tribal, and local law enforcement agencies), provide for the dissemination of appropriate information relating to the special needs of a missing adult (including health care needs) to the appropriate law enforcement, public health, and other public officials.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HAEDF843BDE38434AABFA813616EBDDB0"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Geographic areas</header><text>The minimum standards established under subsection (a) shall, to the maximum extent practicable (as determined by the Coordinator in consultation with State, Tribal, and local law enforcement agencies), provide that the dissemination of an alert through the Ashanti Alert communications network shall be limited to the geographic areas that the missing adult could reasonably reach, considering—</text><subparagraph id="id1F37321FACC04022AB9E1E0B02126BDA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the circumstances and physical and mental condition of the missing adult;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9A56E039C6CF43B7873A1AD832F02A5C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the modes of transportation available to the missing adult; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF7845C7FFB324168A2055C5BDEB48050"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the circumstances of the disappearance.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H4661942CF348471D9F05B2C1C7557D58"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Other requirements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The minimum standards established under subsection (a) shall require that, in order for an Ashanti Alert to be issued for a missing adult, the missing adult—</text><subparagraph id="H13E2F1D91A2B4C2F9EAB296C96651696"><enum>(A)</enum><text>suffers from a proven mental or physical disability, as documented by a source determined credible by an appropriate law enforcement agency; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H860D07D9890E48D6979E646EC67DC669"><enum>(B)</enum><text>be missing under circumstances that indicate, as determined by an appropriate law enforcement agency—</text><clause id="HFB0ADE4C9409461F93424E14F76F2E16"><enum>(i)</enum><text>that the physical safety of the missing adult may be endangered; or</text></clause><clause id="HBC28A081DABB4B23AE9F3F997FB21B63"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>that the disappearance of the missing adult may not have been voluntary, including an abduction or kidnapping.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H67D49FA9DDD0478593A8103B10F0685E"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Safety, privacy, and civil liberties protections</header><text>The minimum standards established under subsection (a) shall—</text><subparagraph id="H0B5DB19326CC4F9684D7E0387B5E7D9F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>ensure that alerts issued through the Ashanti Alert communications network comply with all applicable Federal, State, Tribal, and local privacy laws and regulations;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5B6DFF2B21714A8D9315BC76A64F84F0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>include standards that specifically provide for the protection of the civil liberties and sensitive medical information of missing adults; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id83cee934a32944008cd55453b0b76857"><enum>(C)</enum><text>include standards requiring, as appropriate, a review of relevant court records, prior contacts with law enforcement, and other information relevant to the missing adult or the individual reporting, in order to provide protections against domestic violence.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HCA4F8AD120E64F95A50AF388B013D786"><enum>(5)</enum><header>State, Tribal, and local voluntary coordination</header><text>In establishing minimum standards under subsection (a), the Coordinator may not interfere with the system of voluntary coordination between local broadcasters and State, Tribal, and local law enforcement agencies for purposes of regional and local search efforts for missing adults that was in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this title.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HFBE2A82CFCF642B283BF7D45BDB337A6"><enum>205.</enum><header>Voluntary participation</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The minimum standards established under section 204(a), and any other guidelines and programs established under section 203, shall be adoptable on a voluntary basis only.</text></section><section id="H2A27B9B2526B4F6F9E48FF999E86C4CB"><enum>206.</enum><header>Training and educational programs</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Coordinator shall make available to States, Indian Tribes, units of local government, law enforcement agencies, and other concerned entities that are involved in initiating, facilitating, or promoting Ashanti Alert plans, including broadcasters, first responders, dispatchers, public safety communications personnel, and radio station personnel—</text><paragraph id="H0F9996943E0949D8BE2225FAFE349847"><enum>(1)</enum><text>training and educational programs related to the Ashanti Alert communications network and the capabilities, limitations, and anticipated behaviors of missing adults, which the Coordinator shall update regularly to encourage the use of new tools, technologies, and resources in Ashanti Alert plans; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H66649A4990274001BFB34C871B586767"><enum>(2)</enum><text>informational materials, including brochures, videos, posters, and websites to support and supplement the training and educational programs described in paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></section><section id="H322DE6FA3A5B487DB75B9E6093C9CEF7"><enum>207.</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There is authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General $3,000,000 to carry out the Ashanti Alert communications network as authorized under this title for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2022.</text></section>