A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR A PUBLIC ALERT TO BE ISSUED WHEN A PERSON WITH DEMENTIA OR OTHER COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT IS REPORTED MISSING.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 143B‑499.1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 143B‑499.1.  Dissemination of missing persons data by law‑enforcement agencies; statewide alert for persons with dementia reported as missing.
(a)	A law‑enforcement agency, upon receipt of a missing person report by a parent, spouse, guardian, or legal custodian, shall immediately make arrangements for the entry of data about the missing person or missing child into the national missing persons file in accordance with criteria set forth by the FBI/NCIC, immediately inform all of its on‑duty law‑enforcement officers of the missing person report, initiate a statewide broadcast to all appropriate law‑enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for the individual, and transmit a copy of the report to the Center.
(b)	If the report involves a missing child and the report meets the criteria established in G.S. 143B‑499.7(b), as soon as practicable after receipt of the report, the law enforcement agency shall notify the Center and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children of the relevant data about the missing child.
(c)	If the report involves a missing person who is believed to be suffering from dementia or other cognitive impairment, for the protection of the missing person from potential abuse or other physical harm, neglect,  or exploitation, the Center shall issue an alert providing for rapid dissemination of information statewide regarding the missing person. The Center shall make every effort to disseminate the information as quickly as possible when the missing person is 18 years of age or older, and the person's status as missing has been reported to a law enforcement agency. 
The Center shall adopt guidelines and develop procedures for issuing an alert for missing persons believed to be suffering from dementia or other cognitive impairment and shall provide education and training to encourage radio and television broadcasters to participate in the alert. The guidelines and procedures shall ensure that specific health information about the missing person is not made public through the alert or otherwise.
The Center shall consult with the Department of Transportation and develop a procedure for the use of overhead permanent changeable message signs to provide information on the missing adult meeting the criteria of this subsection when information is available that would enable motorists to assist in the recovery of the missing person. The Center and the Department of Transportation shall develop guidelines for the content, length, and frequency of any message to be placed on an overhead permanent changeable message sign."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.