PRINTER'S NO. 474
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
509
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY DeLUCA, SANCHEZ, STRUZZI, D. WILLIAMS, ZIMMERMAN,
WEBSTER AND HILL-EVANS, FEBRUARY 11, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021
AN ACT
Amending the act of November 24, 2004 (P.L.1270, No.153),
entitled "An act providing for the Pennsylvania Amber Alert
System; authorizing and directing the Pennsylvania State
Police to establish and maintain the Pennsylvania Amber Alert
System; assessing costs; and providing for immunity and
penalties," further providing for duties of Pennsylvania
State Police.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1.1 of the act of November 24, 2004
(P.L.1270, No.153), referred to as the Pennsylvania Amber Alert
System Law, is amended to read:
Section 1.1. Duties of Pennsylvania State Police.
(a) Protocols and procedures.--The Pennsylvania State Police
shall establish such protocols and procedures as are necessary
for the effective operation of each system and shall educate
and inform local law enforcement agencies and the public with
regard to the availability of each system.
(b) Particularly vulnerable children.--This subsection shall
apply to particularly vulnerable children. If a parent or family
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member reports that a child of the parent or family member has
been abducted by a nonparent or nonfamily member, there shall be
a presumption, absent immediately available clear evidence to
the contrary, that the child is in imminent danger of serious
bodily injury or death and the Missing Endangered Person
Advisory System shall be immediately activated without
additional investigation prior to activation of the Pennsylvania
Amber Alert System. This provision shall be known as the "Nalani
Johnson Rule" to protect this Commonwealth's particularly
vulnerable children from harm.
(c) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Family member." A grandparent, aunt, uncle or adult sibling
of a particularly vulnerable child.
"Particularly vulnerable child." A child under 13 years of
age.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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