34 U.S.C. § 20501 — National coordination of AMBER Alert

Page 483 TITLE 34—CRIME CONTROL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT § 20502 Sec. 20502. Minimum standards for issuance and dissemi- nation of alerts through AMBER Alert com- munications network. 20503. Grant program for notification and commu- nications systems along highways and major transportation routes for recovery of abducted children. 20504. Grant program for support of AMBER Alert communications plans. 20505. Limitation on liability. § 20501. 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 na- tional coordinator of the AMBER Alert commu- nications 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 Co- ordinator shall— (1) seek to eliminate gaps in the network, in- cluding gaps in areas of interstate travel (in- cluding airports, maritime ports, border cross- ing areas and checkpoints, and ports of exit from the United States); (2) work with States, territories of the United States, and tribal governments to en- courage the development of additional ele- ments (known as local AMBER plans) in the network; (3) work with States, territories of the United States, and tribal governments to en- sure appropriate regional coordination of var- ious 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 ab- ducted children through the network. (c) Consultation with Federal Bureau of Inves- tigation In carrying out duties under subsection (b), the Coordinator shall notify and consult with the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investiga- tion concerning each child abduction for which an alert is issued through the AMBER Alert communications network. (d) Cooperation The Coordinator shall cooperate with the Sec- retary of Transportation, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Federal Commu- nications Commission in carrying out activities under this section. (e) Report Not later than March 1, 2005, the Coordinator shall submit to Congress a report on the activi- ties of the Coordinator and the effectiveness and status of the AMBER plans of each State that has implemented such a plan. The Coordinator shall prepare the report in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation. (Pub. L. 108–21, title III, § 301, Apr. 30, 2003, 117 Stat. 660; Pub. L. 116–283, div. H, title C, § 10001(a)(1), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4860.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section was formerly classified to section 5791 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to edi- torial reclassification and renumbering as this section. AMENDMENTS 2021—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 116–283, § 10001(a)(1)(A)(i), inserted ‘‘(including airports, maritime ports, border crossing areas and checkpoints, and ports of exit from the United States)’’ after ‘‘gaps in areas of interstate travel’’. Subsec. (b)(2), (3). Pub. L. 116–283, § 10001(a)(1)(A)(ii), inserted ‘‘, territories of the United States, and tribal governments’’ after ‘‘States’’. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 116–283, § 10001(a)(1)(B), inserted ‘‘, the Secretary of Homeland Security,’’ after ‘‘Sec- retary of Transportation’’. § 20502. Minimum standards for issuance and dis- semination 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) The minimum standards established under subsection (a) shall be adoptable on a voluntary basis only. (2) The minimum standards shall, to the max- imum extent practicable (as determined by the Coordinator in consultation with State, terri- torial, tribal, and local law enforcement agen- cies), provide that appropriate information re- lating to the special needs of an abducted child (including health care needs) are disseminated to the appropriate law enforcement, public health, and other public officials. (3) The minimum standards shall, to the max- imum extent practicable (as determined by the Coordinator in consultation with State, terri- torial, tribal, and local law enforcement agen- cies), provide that the dissemination of an alert through the AMBER Alert communications net- work be limited to the geographic areas most likely to facilitate the recovery of the abducted child concerned. (4) In carrying out activities under subsection (a), the Coordinator may not interfere with the current system of voluntary coordination be- tween local broadcasters and State, territorial, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies for purposes of the AMBER Alert communications network. (c) Cooperation (1) The Coordinator shall cooperate with the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Federal Commu- nications Commission in carrying out activities under this section. (2) The Coordinator shall also cooperate with local broadcasters and State, territorial, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies in estab- lishing minimum standards under this section. (Pub. L. 108–21, title III, § 302, Apr. 30, 2003, 117 Stat. 661; Pub. L. 116–283, div. H, title C, § 10001(a)(2), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4861.)