BILL ANALYSIS Ó SB 1127 Page 1 Date of Hearing: August 6, 2014 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Mike Gatto, Chair SB 1127 (Torres) - As Amended: June 15, 2014 Policy Committee: Public SafetyVote:7-0 Aging 6-0 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: SUMMARY This bill adds persons who are developmentally disabled or cognitively impaired to the Silver Alert notification system, which authorizes a law enforcement agency to request the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to activate said alert when a person over the age of 65 is reported missing and the law enforcement agency believes the person is in danger as a result of specified conditions. This bill also deletes the January 1, 2016 sunset on the Silver Alert program, thereby extending operation of these provisions indefinitely. FISCAL EFFECT 1)CHP indicates costs to expand Silver Alerts to developmentally disabled and cognitively impaired persons would be absorbable; CHP already has procedures for endangered missing advisories for this cohort. 2)Ongoing costs to extend the Silver Alert system indefinitely would be absorbable, as current staffing levels for CHP's Emergency Notification and Tactical Alert Center (ENTAC), which covers Amber and Silver Alerts, would not be affected. COMMENTS 1)Rationale . The author contends adding endangered and missing persons with developmental disabilities and cognitive impairments to the existing Silver Alert system is a SB 1127 Page 2 cost-effective way enhance efforts to protect this at-risk population. 2)Silver Alert , created by SB 1047 (Alquist, Statutes of 2012) is a notification system designed to issue and coordinate alerts for missing persons 65 years of age or older. A law enforcement agency may request a Silver Alert if that agency determines that all of the following conditions are met in regard to the investigation of the missing person: a) The missing person is 65 years of age or older. b) The investigating law agency has utilized all available local resources. c) The agency determines the person is missing under unexplained circumstances. d) The agency believes the person is in danger because of age, health, mental or physical disability, environment or weather conditions, or other circumstances. e) There is available information that, if disseminated, could assist in the safe recovery of the missing person. Analysis Prepared by : Geoff Long / APPR. / (916) 319-2081