Collapse to view only § 20505. Limitation on liability
- § 20501. National coordination of AMBER Alert communications network
- § 20502. Minimum standards for issuance and dissemination of alerts through AMBER Alert communications network
- § 20503. Grant program for notification and communications systems along highways and major transportation routes for recovery of abducted children
- § 20504. Grant program for support of AMBER Alert communications plans
- § 20505. Limitation on liability
§ 20501. National coordination of AMBER Alert communications network
(a) Coordination within Department of Justice
(b) DutiesIn acting as the national coordinator of the AMBER Alert communications network, the Coordinator shall—
(1) seek to eliminate gaps in the network, including gaps in areas of interstate travel (including airports, maritime ports, border crossing areas and checkpoints, and ports of exit from the United States);
(2) work with States, territories of the United States, and tribal governments to encourage the development of additional elements (known as local AMBER plans) in the network;
(3) work with States, territories of the United States, and tribal governments to ensure appropriate regional coordination of various elements of the network; and
(4) act as the nationwide point of contact for—
(A) the development of the network; and
(B) regional coordination of alerts on abducted children through the network.
(c) Consultation with Federal Bureau of Investigation
(d) Cooperation
(e) Report
(Pub. L. 108–21, title III, § 301, Apr. 30, 2003, 117 Stat. 660; Pub. L. 116–283, div. H, title C, § 10001(a)(1), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4860.)
§ 20502. Minimum standards for issuance and dissemination of alerts through AMBER Alert communications network
(a) Establishment of minimum standards
Subject to subsection (b), the AMBER Alert Coordinator of the Department of Justice shall establish minimum standards for—
(1) the issuance of alerts through the AMBER Alert communications network; and
(2) the extent of the dissemination of alerts issued through the network.
(b) Limitations
(1) The minimum standards established under subsection (a) shall be adoptable on a voluntary basis only.
(2) The minimum standards shall, to the maximum extent practicable (as determined by the Coordinator in consultation with State, territorial, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies), provide that appropriate information relating to the special needs of an abducted child (including health care needs) are disseminated to the appropriate law enforcement, public health, and other public officials.
(3) The minimum standards shall, to the maximum extent practicable (as determined by the Coordinator in consultation with State, territorial, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies), provide that the dissemination of an alert through the AMBER Alert communications network be limited to the geographic areas most likely to facilitate the recovery of the abducted child concerned.
(4) In carrying out activities under subsection (a), the Coordinator may not interfere with the current system of voluntary coordination between local broadcasters and State, territorial, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies for purposes of the AMBER Alert communications network.
(c) Cooperation
(1) The Coordinator shall cooperate with the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Federal Communications Commission in carrying out activities under this section.
(2) The Coordinator shall also cooperate with local broadcasters and State, territorial, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies in establishing minimum standards under this section.
(Pub. L. 108–21, title III, § 302, Apr. 30, 2003, 117 Stat. 661; Pub. L. 116–283, div. H, title C, § 10001(a)(2), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4861.)
§ 20503. Grant program for notification and communications systems along highways and major transportation routes for recovery of abducted children
(a) Program required
(b) Development grants
(1) In general
(2) Eligible activities
A grant under this subsection may be used by a State for the following purposes:
(A) To develop general policies and procedures to guide the use of changeable message signs or other information systems to notify motorists, aircraft passengers, ship passengers, and travelers about abductions of children.
(B) To develop guidance or policies on the span and format of alert messages to be conveyed on changeable message signs or other traveler information systems.
(C) To coordinate State, regional, and local plans for the use of changeable message signs or other transportation related issues.
(D) To plan secure and reliable communications systems and protocols among public safety and transportation agencies or modify existing communications systems to support the notification of motorists, aircraft passengers, ship passengers, and travelers about abductions of children.
(E) To plan and design improved systems for communicating with motorists, aircraft passengers, ship passengers, and travelers, including the capability for issuing wide area alerts to motorists, aircraft passengers, ship passengers, and travelers.
(F) To plan systems and protocols to facilitate the efficient issuance of child abduction notification and other key information to motorists, aircraft passengers, ship passengers, and travelers during off-hours.
(G) To provide training and guidance to transportation authorities to facilitate appropriate use of changeable message signs and other traveler information systems for the notification of motorists, aircraft passengers, ship passengers, and travelers about abductions of children.
(c) Implementation grants
(1) In general
(2) Eligible activities
(d) Federal share
(1) In general
(2) Waiver
(e) Distribution of grant amounts
(f) Administration
(g) Definition
(h) Authorization of appropriations
(i) Study of State programs
(1) Study
(2) Report
(Pub. L. 108–21, title III, § 303, Apr. 30, 2003, 117 Stat. 662; Pub. L. 116–283, div. H, title C, § 10001(b)(1), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4861.)
§ 20504. Grant program for support of AMBER Alert communications plans
(a) Program required
The Attorney General shall carry out a program to provide grants to States and Indian tribes for—
(1) the development or enhancement of programs and activities for the support of AMBER Alert communications plans; and
(2) the integration of tribal AMBER Alert systems into State AMBER Alert systems.
(b) Activities
Activities funded by grants under the program under subsection (a) may include—
(1) the development and implementation of education and training programs, and associated materials, relating to AMBER Alert communications plans;
(2) the development and implementation of law enforcement programs, and associated equipment, relating to AMBER Alert communications plans;
(3) the development and implementation of new technologies to improve AMBER Alert communications;
(4) the integration of State or regional AMBER Alert communication plans with a territorial government or an Indian tribe; and
(5) such other activities as the Attorney General considers appropriate for supporting the AMBER Alert communications program.
(c) Federal share
(1) In general
(2) Waiver
(d) Distribution of grant amounts on geographic basis
(e) Administration
(f) Definition of Indian tribe
(g) Authorization of appropriations
(1) There is authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Justice $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 to carry out this section and, in addition, $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 to carry out paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (b).
(2) Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in paragraph (1) shall remain available until expended.
(Pub. L. 108–21, title III, § 304, Apr. 30, 2003, 117 Stat. 663; Pub. L. 115–166, § 2, Apr. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1274; Pub. L. 116–283, div. H, title C, § 10001(c), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4862.)
§ 20505. Limitation on liability
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, including any of its officers, employees, or agents, shall not be liable for damages in any civil action for defamation, libel, slander, or harm to reputation arising out of any action or communication by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, its officers, employees, or agents, in connection with any clearinghouse, hotline or complaint intake or forwarding program or in connection with activity that is wholly or partially funded by the United States and undertaken in cooperation with, or at the direction of a Federal law enforcement agency.
(b) The limitation in subsection (a) does not apply in any action in which the plaintiff proves that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, its officers, employees, or agents acted with actual malice, or provided information or took action for a purpose unrelated to an activity mandated by Federal law. For purposes of this subsection, the prevention, or detection of crime, and the safety, recovery, or protection of missing or exploited children shall be deemed, per se, to be an activity mandated by Federal law.
(Pub. L. 108–21, title III, § 305, Apr. 30, 2003, 117 Stat. 664.)