[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 362 Introduced in House (IH)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 362
To enhance the operation of the AMBER Alert communications network in
order to facilitate the recovery of abducted children, to provide for
enhanced notification on highways of alerts and information on such
children, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 27, 2003
Mr. Hefley introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To enhance the operation of the AMBER Alert communications network in
order to facilitate the recovery of abducted children, to provide for
enhanced notification on highways of alerts and information on such
children, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National AMBER Alert Network Act of
2003''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL COORDINATION OF AMBER ALERT COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK.
(a) Coordination Within Department of Justice.--The Attorney
General shall assign an officer of the Department of Justice to act as
the national coordinator of the AMBER Alert communications network
regarding abducted children. The officer so designated shall be known
as the ``AMBER Alert Coordinator of the Department of Justice''.
(b) Duties.--In acting as the national coordinator of the AMBER
Alert communications network, the Coordinator shall--
(1) seek to eliminate gaps in the network, including gaps
in areas of interstate travel;
(2) work with States to encourage the development of
additional elements in the network (known as local AMBER
plans);
(3) work with States to ensure appropriate regional
coordination of various elements of the network; and
(4) act as the nationwide point of contact for--
(A) the development of the network; and
(B) regional coordination of alerts on abducted
children through the network.
(c) Consultation With Federal Bureau of Investigation.--In carrying
out duties under subsection (b), the Coordinator shall notify and
consult with the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
concerning each child abduction for which an alert is issued through
the AMBER Alert communications network.
(d) Cooperation.--The Coordinator shall cooperate with the
Secretary of Transportation and the Federal Communications Commission
in carrying out activities under this section.
SEC. 3. MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR ISSUANCE AND DISSEMINATION OF ALERTS
THROUGH AMBER ALERT COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK.
(a) Establishment of Minimum Standards.--Subject to subsection (b),
the AMBER Alert Coordinator of the Department of Justice shall
establish minimum standards for--
(1) the issuance of alerts through the AMBER Alert
communications network; and
(2) the extent of the dissemination of alerts issued
through the network.
(b) Limitations.--
(1) Adoptable on voluntary basis.--The minimum standards
established under subsection (a) shall be adoptable on a
voluntary basis only.
(2) Geographic area.--The minimum standards shall provide,
to the maximum extent practicable (as determined by the
Coordinator in consultation with State and local law
enforcement agencies), that the dissemination of an alert
through the AMBER Alert communications network be limited to
the geographic areas most likely to facilitate the recovery of
the abducted child concerned.
(3) Protection of existing system.--In carrying out
activities under subsection (a), the Coordinator may not
interfere with the system of voluntary coordination between
local broadcasters and State and local law enforcement agencies
in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act
for purposes of the AMBER Alert communications network.
(c) Cooperation.--
(1) Federal.--The Coordinator shall cooperate with the
Secretary of Transportation and the Federal Communications
Commission in carrying out activities under this section.
(2) State and local.--The Coordinator shall also cooperate
with local broadcasters and State and local law enforcement
agencies in establishing minimum standards under this section.
SEC. 4. GRANT PROGRAM FOR NOTIFICATION AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS ALONG
HIGHWAYS FOR RECOVERY OF ABDUCTED CHILDREN.
(a) Program Required.--The Secretary of Transportation shall carry
out a program to provide grants to States for the development or
enhancement of notification or communications systems along highways
for alerts and other information for the recovery of abducted children.
(b) Activities.--Activities funded by grants under the program
under subsection (a) may include--
(1) the development or enhancement of electronic message
boards along highways and the placement of additional signage
along highways; and
(2) the development or enhancement of other means of
disseminating alerts and other information for the recovery of
abducted children along highways.
(c) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of any activities
funded by a grant under the program under subsection (a) may not exceed
50 percent.
(d) Distribution of Grant Amounts on Geographic Basis.--The
Secretary shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, the
distribution of grants under the program under subsection (a) on an
equitable basis throughout the various regions of the United States.
(e) Administration.--The Secretary shall prescribe requirements,
including application requirements, for grants under the program under
subsection (a).
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated
$20,000,000 for fiscal year 2004 to carry out this section.
(2) Period of availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant
to the authorization of appropriations in paragraph (1) shall
remain available until expended.
SEC. 5. GRANT PROGRAM FOR SUPPORT OF AMBER ALERT COMMUNICATIONS PLANS.
(a) Program Required.--The Attorney General shall carry out a
program to provide grants to States for the development or enhancement
of programs and activities for the support of AMBER Alert
communications plans.
(b) Activities.--Activities funded by grants under the program
under subsection (a) may include--
(1) the development and implementation of education and
training programs, and associated materials, relating to AMBER
Alert communications plans;
(2) the development and implementation of law enforcement
programs, and associated equipment, relating to AMBER Alert
communications plans; and
(3) such other activities as the Secretary considers
appropriate for supporting the AMBER Alert communications
program.
(c) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of any activities
funded by a grant under the program under subsection (a) may not exceed
50 percent.
(d) Distribution of Grant Amounts on Geographic Basis.--The
Attorney General shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, the
distribution of grants under the program under subsection (a) on an
equitable basis throughout the various regions of the United States.
(e) Administration.--The Attorney General shall prescribe
requirements, including application requirements, for grants under the
program under subsection (a).
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated
$5,000,000 for fiscal year 2004 to carry out this section.
(2) Period of availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant
to the authorization of appropriations in paragraph (1) shall
remain available until expended.
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