Provides that AMBER alerts shall be provided on all state-owned wireless communication devices

9 Co-sponsors

• James S. Alesi
• John A. DeFrancisco
• Owen H. Johnson
• Kenneth P. LaValle
• George D. Maziarz
• Michael H. Ranzenhofer
• Stephen M. Saland
• James L. Seward
• Dale M. Volker

Title of bill

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring AMBER alerts to be transmitted as text messages to every state-owned wireless communications device

Purpose

To provide that AMBER alerts shall be provided to all state-owned wireless communication devices.

Summary of provisions

Section 837-f of the Executive Law is amended to provide a mechanism whereby all State-owned wireless device telephone numbers shall be provided to CTIA - The Wireless Foundation, as part of the national Wireless AMBER Alerts Initiative. These amendments will then allow for such wireless devices to receive AMBER Alerts when transmitted in the State of New York.

Existing law

There is no existing law requiring state-owned wireless communication devices to be part of the national Wireless AMBER Alert Initiative.

Justification

The AMBER Alert program, also known as America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response Plan, is a program in which broadcasters and transportation authorities immediately distribute information about recent child abductions to the public, enabling the entire community to assist in the search for and safe recovery of the child. This program has successfully helped to recover 495 children since its inception.

The national Wireless AMBER Alerts Initiative is a voluntary partnership between the wireless industry, the United States Department of Justice, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), to distribute AMBER Alerts free-of-charge to wireless subscribers who opt in to receive the messages and are able to receive text messages on their wireless devices. There are approximately 200 million subscribers of wireless devices in the United States.

Obviously, the more individuals who subscribe to become part of the national Wireless Amber Alerts Initiative, the odds become even greater that someone will be able to assist law enforcement in the recovery of an abducted child. As the first several hours of a kidnapping are the most crucial, the more people that receive this rapid information increase the odds in bringing a child home safely.

Therefore, it is incumbent upon the State of New York to have all state-owned wireless communications devices made part of this program. Upon enactment, this vital AMBER Alert information will be automatically sent to tens of thousands of State-owned wireless devices whereby State employees will then be aware to be on the lookout for an abducted child. This collaboration between the State of New York and the Wireless Amber Alert Program will effectively get this information out immediately to New York State employees throughout the entire State from Long Island to Buffalo. The State is a proud supporter of the AMBER Alert Program and believes a partnership with the national Wireless Amber Alerts Initiative with all State-owned wireless devices will help not only bolster the program's existence but also be a catalyst to aiding in the return of an abducted child.

Legislative history

This is a new bill. FISCAL IMPLICATIONS : None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately, except that section one of this act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided, that effective immediately any actions necessary to implement the provisions of section one of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be completed on or before such date.