BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 643
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB
643 (Nazarian)
As Amended April 8, 2015
Majority vote
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|Committee |Votes |Ayes |Noes |
|----------------+------+------------------------+-------------------|
|Transportation |15-0 |Frazier, Achadjian, | |
| | |Baker, Bloom, Campos, | |
| | |Chu, Daly, Dodd, | |
| | |Eduardo Garcia, Kim, | |
| | |Linder, Medina, | |
| | |Melendez, Nazarian, | |
| | |O'Donnell | |
| | | | |
|----------------+------+------------------------+-------------------|
|Aging |7-0 |Brown, Hadley, Gipson, | |
| | |Gray, Levine, Lopez, | |
| | |Mathis | |
| | | | |
|----------------+------+------------------------+-------------------|
|Appropriations |17-0 |Gomez, Bigelow, Bloom, | |
| | |Bonta, Calderon, Chang, | |
| | |Daly, Eggman, | |
| | |Gallagher, Eduardo | |
| | |Garcia, Holden, Jones, | |
| | |Quirk, Rendon, Wagner, | |
| | |Weber, Wood | |
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AB 643
Page 2
SUMMARY: Authorizes the use of changeable message signs to
disseminate information regarding a Silver Alert if law
enforcement determines that a vehicle may be involved in the
incident and if specific vehicle information is available.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Establishes a Silver Alert notification system, designed to
issue and coordinate alerts if a person that is age 65 years or
older, developmentally disabled, or cognitively impaired is
missing and if the following conditions have been met:
a) A law enforcement agency has used all available local
resources to locate the missing person;
b) The missing person is believed to be in danger because of,
for example, health or weather conditions; and
c) It has been determined that the public dissemination of
information may lead to a safe recovery of the missing
person.
2)Directs California Highway Patrol (CHP), upon activation of a
Silver Alert, to issue a be-on-the-lookout alert, an Emergency
Digital Information Service message, or and electronic flyer.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, "Any additional costs to the CHP will be minor and
absorbable."
COMMENTS: AB 415 (Runner), Chapter 517, Statutes of 2002, created
California's Amber Alert program and authorized law enforcement
agencies to use the national Emergency Alert System (EAS) to
disseminate relevant child abduction information.
AB 643
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Following on the success of the Amber Alert program, the Blue
Alert and the Silver Alert programs were developed. The Blue
Alert program, established by SB 839 (Runner), Chapter 311,
Statutes of 2010, also uses the EAS to provide for public
notification when a law enforcement officer has been attacked.
The Silver Alert program, originally established by SB 1047
(Alquist), Chapter 651, Statutes of 2012, provides for public
notification when a person who is age 65 years or older,
developmentally disabled, or cognitively impaired is missing.
The Silver Alert program differs notably from the Amber Alert and
Blue Alert programs. In the event a Silver Alert is issued, the
CHP may use any of the following resources:
a)Be-On-The-Lookout (BOLO): These announcements are broadcast by
CHP communication centers to CHP personnel located in the
affected areas. BOLOs contain suspect, victim, and vehicle
information, if available.
b)Emergency Digital Information Service: This service provides
local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies with a direct
computer link to media outlets and other law enforcement
agencies.
c)APBnet: This is an image-based system operated a by non-profit
organization and links state, county, and local law enforcement.
The system captures and immediately distributes color
photographs and images to law enforcement agencies, the media,
and other organizations.
Existing law does not authorize use of the EAS or changeable
message signs for Silver Alerts.
California has 790 changeable message signs on state highways that
are governed by both federal and California regulations. These
AB 643
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regulations generally limit the use of changeable message signs to
traffic operations, regulatory, warning and guidance information.
Additionally, the signs are used for Amber Alerts and Blue Alerts.
The author has introduced this measure to improve the
effectiveness of the Silver Alert program. He notes that
Californians drive over 300 billion miles annually and,
consequently, have frequent exposure to changeable message signs,
primarily along the state's freeway corridors. In authorizing the
use of these changeable message signs to disseminate information
regarding Silver Alerts, the author hopes this exposure will lead
to the safe return of missing persons.
Please see the policy committee analysis for full discussion of
this bill.
Analysis Prepared by:
Janet Dawson / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093 FN:
0000297