SEARCH SITE
VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL
- Code of Virginia
- Virginia Administrative Code
- Constitution of Virginia
- Charters
- Authorities
- Compacts
- Uncodified Acts
- RIS Users (account required)
SEARCHABLE DATABASES
- Bills & Resolutions
session legislation - Bill Summaries
session summaries - Reports to the General Assembly
House and Senate documents - Legislative Liaisons
State agency contacts
ACROSS SESSIONS
- Subject Index: Since 1995
- Bills & Resolutions: Since 1994
- Summaries: Since 1994
Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.
2003 SESSION
034833616Be 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.