BILL NUMBER: SB 839	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  FEBRUARY 24, 2010

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Runner
   (Coauthor: Senator Harman)
    (   Coauthor:   Assembly Member  
Gilmore   ) 

                        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 amended, 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.  This bill would also require the California
Highway Patrol to include information   describing blue
alerts on its Internet Web site. 
   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   a quick response system
designed to issue and coordinate alerts  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. 
   (5) The California Highway Patrol has been designated to use the
federally authorized Emergency Alert System for the issuance of blue
alerts.  
   (c) The blue alert response system shall employ the Emergency
Alert System, as available, the Emergency Digital Information
Service, local digital signs, focused text alerts, and other
appropriate technologies.  
   (d) On or before December 31, 2011, the California Highway Patrol
shall augment the department's public Internet Web site to include a
blue alert link that describes the "blue alert" process, objectives,
and available quick responses. The Internet Web site shall explain
that the term blue alert will communicate that a peace officer has
been attacked or killed and that the scope of an alert will be
tailored to the circumstances of the offense and available
technologies.