2025 -- S 0983

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LC002713

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- STATE POLICE

     Introduced By: Senators Patalano, Tikoian, LaMountain, Lawson, DiPalma, Ciccone,
Thompson, Burke, Appollonio, and Britto

     Date Introduced: April 16, 2025

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 42-28 of the General Laws entitled "State Police" is hereby amended

by adding thereto the following sections:

     42-28-3.7. PURPLE alert.

     (a) In the case of a missing adult with serious or substantial physical, behavioral health,

neurological disability, or condition that objectively establishes concerns for the immediate safety

and wellbeing of the missing person, the first few hours are critical in finding such person.

     (b) The division of state police, in consultation with other appropriate agencies, including

without limitation, the department of health, shall develop a voluntary partnership among law

enforcement agencies, media outlets and other appropriate entities to send out emergency alerts

entitled the “PURPLE alert program.”

     (c) For purposes of §§ 42-28-3.7 and 42-28-3.8, a “PURPLE alert citizen” means a person:

     (1) Whose whereabouts are unknown;

     (2) Whose domicile at the time the person is reported missing is Rhode Island;

     (3) Whose age at the time the person is reported missing is eighteen (18) years of age or

older;

     (4) Who has a serious or substantial physical, behavioral health, neurological disability, or

condition that objectively establishes concerns for the immediate safety and wellbeing of the

missing person; and

     (5) Whose disappearance poses a credible threat to the safety and health of such person, as

determined by the state police or other law enforcement agency.

     (d) The serious physical, behavioral health, neurological disability or condition shall be

demonstrated by the appropriate documentation presented by the missing person’s family, legal

guardian, long-term care ombudsman, or long-term care facility where such person resides.

     (e) The purple alert program shall provide a proactive emergency public alert plan as part

of the response to the disappearance of a missing adult with a serious physical, behavioral health,

neurological disability or condition that may be expediently triggered by law enforcement

personnel in accordance with protocols and procedures established by the division of state police

in consultation with appropriate law enforcement authorities, the Rhode Island emergency

management agency, the department of health, state and local officials and cooperating members

of the broadcast media (“PURPLE alert”).

     (f) If a law enforcement agency has confirmed the disappearance of a missing adult with

the above disability or conditions, the law enforcement agency shall obtain descriptive information

for the purple alert, contact the state police to provide the descriptive information to the state police

and identify a point of contact within its agency.

     42-28-3.8. PURPLE alert procedures for protocol and implementation.

     The division of state police shall establish protocols and procedures to implement a purple

alert. The protocols and procedures shall be updated as may be necessary in consultation with the

entities and agencies involved in the purple alert process to provide effective and efficient

procedures to assist law enforcement agencies, broadcast media and other cooperating agencies or

entities in providing an emergency alert to the public in response to a missing adult with a serious

physical, behavioral health, neurological disability or condition.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- STATE POLICE

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     This act would create the PURPLE alert state system to aid in the search for a missing adult

with a serious physical, behavioral health, neurological disabilities or medical condition.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC002713

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