Section 3-604 - Silver Alert Program.

§ 3-604. Silver Alert Program.
 

(a)  Definitions.-  

(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 

(2) "Caregiver" means a parent, spouse, guardian, legal custodian, or person responsible for the supervision of another adult. 

(3) "Law enforcement agency" means a State, county, or municipal police department or agency, or a sheriff's department. 

(4) "Missing person" means an individual: 

(i) whose whereabouts are unknown; 

(ii) who suffers a cognitive impairment including a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or dementia to the extent that the individual requires assistance from a caregiver; and 

(iii) whose disappearance poses a credible threat to the health and safety of the individual due to age, health, mental or physical disability, environment, or weather conditions, as determined by a law enforcement agency. 

(b)  Established.-  

(1) The Department of State Police shall establish a Silver Alert Program to provide a system for rapid dissemination of information to assist in locating a missing person. 

(2) The Department of State Police shall: 

(i) adopt guidelines and develop procedures for issuing a Silver Alert for a missing person; 

(ii) provide training to local law enforcement agencies on the guidelines and procedures to be used to handle a report of a missing person; 

(iii) provide assistance to a local law enforcement agency, as necessary, to assist in the safe recovery of a missing person; 

(iv) recruit public and commercial television and radio broadcasters, local volunteer groups, and other members of the public to assist in developing and implementing a Silver Alert; 

(v) consult with the State Highway Administration to establish a plan for providing information relevant to a Silver Alert to the public through the dynamic message sign system located across the State; and 

(vi) consult with the State Department of Education to develop a program that: 

1. allows high school students to assist in the search for a missing person under this section; 

2. complies with COMAR 13A.03.02.06; and 

3. is consistent with the student service-learning guidelines developed by the State Department of Education. 

(c)  Notice to local law enforcement agency.- A caregiver or person filing a report regarding a missing person immediately shall notify the local law enforcement agency with which the report was filed and the Department of State Police if: 

(1) the missing person who was the subject of the report is located; and 

(2) it is unlikely that the local law enforcement agency or the Department of State Police has knowledge that the missing person has been located. 
 

[2009, chs. 503, 504.]