BILL NUMBER: SB 839	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Runner
   (Coauthor: Senator Harman)

                        JANUARY 6, 2010

   An act to add Section 8594.5 to the Government Code, relating to
emergency alerts.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 839, as introduced, Runner. Emergency Alert System: law
enforcement officers.
   Existing law requires the California Highway Patrol to activate
the Emergency Alert System at the request of an authorized person at
a law enforcement agency if a child 17 years of age or younger, or an
individual with a proven mental or physical disability, has been
abducted and is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death,
and other conditions are met.
   This bill would require the California Highway Patrol, at the
request of an authorized person at a law enforcement agency, to
activate the Emergency Alert System and issue a blue alert, as
defined, if a law enforcement officer has been killed, suffers
serious bodily injury, or is assaulted with a deadly weapon, the
suspect has fled the scene of the offense, and other specified
conditions are met.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 8594.5 is added to the Government Code, to
read:
   8594.5.  (a) For purposes of this section, "blue alert" means an
alert issued following an attack upon a law enforcement officer as
described in subdivision (b).
   (b) In addition to the circumstances described in Section 8594,
upon the request of an authorized person at a law enforcement agency
that is investigating an offense described in paragraph (1), the
California Highway Patrol shall activate the Emergency Alert System
and issue a blue alert if all of the following conditions are met:
   (1) A law enforcement officer has been killed, suffers serious
bodily injury, or is assaulted with a deadly weapon, and the suspect
has fled the scene of the offense.
   (2) A law enforcement agency investigating the offense has
determined that the suspect poses an imminent threat to the public or
other law enforcement personnel.
   (3) A detailed description of the suspect's vehicle or license
plate is available for broadcast.
   (4) Public dissemination of available information may help avert
further harm or accelerate apprehension of the suspect.