Establishes a temporary commission on AMBER Alert effectiveness to study and make recommendations on any improvements that may be taken toward the activation and dissemination of the alert; makes an appropriation therefor.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6131
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 12, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sen. BOYLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT establishing a temporary state commission to study and make
recommendations on the effectiveness of the AMBER Alert; making an
appropriation therefor; and providing for the repeal of such
provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. A temporary state commission, to be known as the commission
2 on AMBER Alert effectiveness, hereafter referred to as the commission,
3 is hereby created to evaluate and make recommendations concerning the
4 effectiveness of the AMBER Alert system.
5 § 2. (a) The commission shall consist of thirteen members, to be
6 appointed as follows: three members to be appointed by the temporary
7 president of the senate; three members to be appointed by the speaker of
8 the assembly; two members to be appointed by the governor; one member to
9 be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; one member to be
10 appointed by the minority leader of the assembly; two members shall be
11 from the New York State Police and one member shall be from the Depart-
12 ment of Criminal Justice Services. The appointees shall have demon-
13 strated expertise in the AMBER Alert system and shall include but not be
14 limited to members from district attorney's offices and local law
15 enforcement. The governor shall designate the chairperson and vice-
16 chairperson of the commission. Vacancies in the membership of the
17 commission and among its officers shall be filled in the manner provided
18 for original appointments or designations.
19 (b) The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for
20 their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
21 incurred in the performance of their duties under this act. The commis-
22 sion may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel as it may deem
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10631-01-1
S. 6131 2
1 necessary for the performance of its functions and fix their compen-
2 sation within the amounts made available by appropriation therefor.
3 (c) All departments or agencies of the state or subdivisions thereof
4 shall, at the request of the chairperson, provide the commission such
5 facilities, assistance, and data as will enable the commission to carry
6 out its powers and duties.
7 § 3. Specifically the commission shall evaluate at least the follow-
8 ing:
9 (a) the current activation criteria of the AMBER Alert;
10 (b) the notification procedures once the AMBER Alert is activated;
11 (c) the partners used to disseminate information and interstate coop-
12 eration;
13 (d) methods of disseminating information to the public including the
14 technology and any current limitations of the system; and
15 (e) the effectiveness of the AMBER Alert system.
16 § 4. (a) For the accomplishment of its purposes, the commission may
17 meet and hold public and/or private hearings within or without the
18 state, and shall have all the powers of a legislative committee pursuant
19 to the legislative law. The commission is authorized and empowered to
20 undertake any studies, inquiries, surveys or analyses it may deem rele-
21 vant through its own personnel or in cooperation with or by agreement
22 with any other public or private agency.
23 (b) To the maximum extent feasible, the commission may request and
24 shall be entitled to receive and shall utilize and be provided with such
25 facilities, resources and data from any court in the state and from any
26 subdivision, department, board, bureau, commission, office, agency or
27 other instrumentality of the state or of any political subdivision ther-
28 eof as it deems necessary or desirable for the proper execution of its
29 powers and duties and to effectuate the purposes set forth in this act.
30 (c) The commission is hereby authorized and empowered to enter into
31 any agreements and to do and perform any acts that may be necessary,
32 desirable or proper to carry out the purposes and objectives of this
33 act.
34 § 5. The commission shall make recommendations and submit a report of
35 its findings. The commission shall submit such recommendations and
36 report developed by it relating to the effectiveness of the AMBER Alert
37 system and any improvements that may be taken towards the activation and
38 dissemination of the alert, including any recommendations for legisla-
39 tive action as it may deem necessary and appropriate, to the governor,
40 the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly no
41 later than the three months after this act shall have become a law. The
42 commission shall issue a binding recommendation which shall be presented
43 to the legislature to completely accept or reject such recommendation.
44 § 6. The sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), or so much thereof
45 as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to pay the expenses
46 incurred, including personal service, in carrying out the provisions of
47 this act. Such moneys shall be payable out of the state treasury in the
48 general fund to the credit of the state purposes account after audit by
49 and on the warrant of the comptroller upon vouchers certified or
50 approved by the chairperson or vice-chairperson of the commission as
51 prescribed by law.
52 § 7. This act shall take effect immediately; provided that the
53 provisions of this act shall expire and be deemed repealed on the first
54 day next succeeding the date of the submission of the report as required
55 in section five of this act; and provided further, however, that the
56 chairperson of the temporary commission on AMBER Alert effectiveness
S. 6131 3
1 shall notify the legislative bill drafting commission upon the
2 submission of its report as provided for in section five of this act in
3 order that the commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective
4 data base of the official text of the laws of the state of New York in
5 furtherance of effecting the provisions of section 44 of the legislative
6 law and section 70-b of the public officers law.
