BILL NUMBER: SB 839	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  311
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 27, 2010
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 25, 2010
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 19, 2010
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 16, 2010
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 14, 2010
	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, 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.


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 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 system incorporates a variety of notification
resources and developing technologies that may be tailored to the
circumstances and geography of the underlying attack. The blue alert
system shall utilize the state-controlled Emergency Digital
Information System, local digital signs, focused text, or other
technologies, as appropriate, in addition to the federal Emergency
Alert System, if authorized and under conditions permitted by the
federal government.
   (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 law enforcement
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.