AN ACT to clarify a silver alert may be issued for a person of any age who is believed to be suffering from dementia or other cognitive impairment.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 143B‑499.8 reads as rewritten:
"§ 143B‑499.8.  North Carolina Silver Alert System established.
(a)	There is established within the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons the Silver Alert System. The purpose of the Silver Alert System is to provide a statewide system for the rapid dissemination of information regarding a missing person who is believed to be suffering from dementia or other cognitive impairment.
(b)	If the Center receives a report that 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 person's status as missing has been reported to a law enforcement agency.
(c)	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.
(d)	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 person meeting the criteria of this section 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.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 8th day of June, 2009.

	s/	 Walter H. Dalton
	 President of the Senate

	s/	 Joe Hackney
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

	s/	 Beverly E. Perdue
	 Governor

Approved 12:03 p.m. this 19th day of June, 2009