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2003 SESSION

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034833616
HOUSE BILL NO. 1980 Offered January 8, 2003 Prefiled January 7, 2003 A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 1 of Title 52 a section numbered 52-11.4, establishing the Virginia Alert Plan. ---------- Patrons-- Athey, Rapp and Sherwood ---------- Referred to Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 1 of Title 52 a section numbered 52-11.4 as follows:

§ 52-11.4. Virginia Alert Plan.

The Department of State Police shall establish, implement, coordinate, and manage a statewide alert program, known as the Virginia Alert Plan, to rapidly publicize urgent information when the Superintendent of State Police determines that the immediate release of the information would assist in maintaining the safety of the citizens of the Commonwealth, including information that (i) may lead to the recovery of an abducted child, and (ii) will inform the public of terrorist acts. The Department shall ensure that the Virginia Alert Plan is a coordinated effort among the Department, local law-enforcement agencies, the state's public and commercial television and radio broadcasters, the Virginia Department of Transportation and any other entities whose participation will assist in the administration of the Virginia Alert Plan. The Department of State Police shall establish procedures for implementation of the Virginia Alert Plan, including but not limited to, procedures for (i) local law-enforcement officers to follow in verifying and reporting information to be publicized, (ii) the activation of the Virginia Alert Plan through the Virginia emergency alert system and (iii) the coordination of local, regional and any other government-sponsored alert plans with the Virginia Alert Plan.

For the purposes of this section, "abducted child" means any person who is under the age of 18 years old, who is believed to have been abducted, whose whereabouts are unknown, and whose disappearance poses a credible threat to the safety and health of the child.