North Carolina creates statewide alert system for missing persons with disabilities

Original title: Create Alert/Missing Person w/ Disability.

Last action · April 10, 2025: Ref to the Com on Judiciary 2, if favorable, Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (House action)Sponsors: Terry Brown and 18 others

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What This Bill Would Do

North Carolina establishes the Missing with Disability Alert System within the state Center for Missing Persons to rapidly share information when a disabled adult or child goes missing. Law enforcement agencies and the Center must issue statewide alerts, protect personal health information, and coordinate with the Department of Transportation to display messages on highway signs. The measure takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Why it matters

Law enforcement agencies and state transportation officials must build new operational procedures and highway messaging protocols to broadcast emergency alerts for endangered missing residents.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

North Carolina Center for Missing Persons

The Center is tasked with establishing the alert system, issuing alerts, and developing guidelines with law enforcement and transportation officials.

Directly affected

law enforcement agencies

Agencies must issue rapid statewide alerts and adopt guidelines, procedures, and training for missing persons with disabilities.

Directly affected

Department of Transportation

The Department must consult with the Center to develop procedures and guidelines for using overhead permanent changeable message signs.

Directly affected

missing persons or missing children with a disability

Individuals meeting the criteria will be the subject of rapid statewide public information dissemination to aid in their recovery.

Key Facts

Establishes the North Carolina Missing with Disability Alert System within the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons.
Requires the Center or a law enforcement agency to issue a statewide alert upon receiving a request involving a missing person or child with a disability who requires protection from harm, neglect, or exploitation.
Mandates that the Center and law enforcement adopt guidelines and procedures for issuing alerts and provide training to encourage radio and television broadcaster participation.
Prohibits making specific health information about the missing person or child public through the alert or otherwise.

Show all 6 facts

Directs the Center and law enforcement to consult with the Department of Transportation to use overhead permanent changeable message signs for motorist assistance.
Takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who administers the new Missing with Disability Alert System?

The system is established within the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons, operating in coordination with local law enforcement agencies and the Department of Transportation.

Will sensitive medical details about the missing person be broadcasted?

No. The guidelines and procedures must ensure that specific health information about the missing person or child is not made public through the alert or otherwise.

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

3 actions

Apr 10, 2025House
Ref to the Com on Judiciary 2, if favorable, Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
Apr 10, 2025House
Passed 1st Reading
Apr 9, 2025HouseIntroduced
Filed

Version history

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