Bill Text: NJ A2781 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires all wireless telephones and electronic communication devices issued by public entities to be activated to receive Amber Alerts.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-3)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-12-13 - Substituted by S1431 [A2781 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A2781-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RUBEN J. RAMOS, JR.
District 33 (Hudson)
Assemblyman CRAIG J. COUGHLIN
District 19 (Middlesex)
Assemblyman CHARLES MAINOR
District 31 (Hudson)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Tucker, Assemblymen Diegnan, Green, Conaway, DiCicco, Assemblywomen Handlin, Rodriguez, Assemblymen DeAngelo, Greenwald, Assemblywoman Riley and Assemblyman Rible
SYNOPSIS
Requires all wireless telephones and electronic communication devices issued by public entities to be activated to receive Amber Alerts.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning wireless telephones and electronic communication devices issued by public entities and supplementing P.L.2002, c.129 (C.52:17B-194.1 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. As used in this act:
"National Wireless Amber Alerts Initiative" means the voluntary partnership between the wireless industry, the United States Department of Justice, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to distribute Amber Alert text messages to wireless subscribers who register to receive the messages and are able to receive text messages on their wireless telephones or electronic communication devices.
"Public entity" means the State and any county, municipality, district, or political subdivision and any authority, agency, board, or body thereof that, on the effective date of P.L. c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), is under contract with a wireless telephone company providing commercial mobile service as defined in 47 U.S.C. s.332 (d) that participates in the national Wireless Amber Alerts Initiative.
2. Every officer or employee of a public entity who possesses a wireless telephone or electronic communication device which is issued by a public entity, is capable of receiving text messages, and is enrolled in or subscribed to a service or plan that enables the telephone or device to receive text messages shall subscribe with the national Wireless Amber Alerts Initiative to receive wireless Amber Alert text messages. The officer or employee shall, at a minimum, enroll the wireless telephone or electronic communication device in the initiative to receive wireless Amber Alert text messages for a zip code that corresponds to the city of his permanent residence and of his primary place of business. In the event that the officer or employee is not authorized to manage the account for the wireless telephone or electronic communication device issued by a public entity, such officer or employee shall request the administrator of the account to enroll the wireless telephone or electronic communication device to receive Amber Alert text messages in accordance with the provisions of this act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires employees or officers of certain public entities of this State who possess a wireless telephone or electronic communication device issued by the public entity to enroll in the national Wireless Amber Alerts Initiative to receive Amber Alert text messages. This requirement would apply only to employees or officers using a wireless telephone or electronic communication device that is: 1) issued by a public entity that has contracted with a wireless telephone company that participates in the national Wireless Amber Alerts Initiative; 2) capable of receiving text messages; and 3) subscribed to or enrolled in a plan that allows the telephone or device to receive text messages.
The New Jersey Amber Plan is a voluntary, cooperative program between the law enforcement community and the broadcast media to send an emergency alert ("Amber Alert") to the public when a child has been abducted and it is believed that the child's life is in danger. The national Wireless Amber Alerts Initiative is a voluntary partnership between the wireless industry, the United States Department of Justice, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to distribute Amber Alert text messages to wireless subscribers who register to receive the messages.
