1. (a)

   1. (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
   2. (2) “Caregiver” means a parent, spouse, guardian, legal custodian, or person responsible for the supervision of another adult.
   3. (3) “Developmental disability” has the meaning stated in § 7-101(g) of the Health--General Article.
   4. (4) “Intellectual disability” has the meaning stated in § 7-101(n) of the Health--General Article.
   5. (5) “Law enforcement agency” means a State, county, or municipal police department or agency or a sheriff's department.
   6. (6) “Mental disorder” has the meaning stated in § 10-101 of the Health--General Article.

   7. (7) “Missing person” means an individual:

      1. (i) whose whereabouts are unknown;

      2. (ii) 1. who has a cognitive impairment, mental disorder, intellectual or developmental disability, or brain injury that is not:

         1. A. Alzheimer's disease;
         2. B. dementia; or
         3. C. a physical, mental, or emotional disability related to substance abuse; or
         4. 2. who is deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or late-deafened;
      3. (iii) whose disappearance poses a credible threat to the health and safety of the individual due to age, health, mental or physical disability, environment, or weather conditions, as determined by a law enforcement agency; and
      4. (iv) who does not meet the criteria for activation of a Silver Alert under § 3-604 of this subtitle.

2. (b)

   1. (1) The Department of State Police shall establish a Purple Alert Program to provide a system for rapid dissemination of information to assist in locating a missing person.

   2. (2) The Department of State Police shall:

      1. (i) adopt guidelines and develop procedures for issuing a Purple Alert for a missing person;
      2. (ii) provide training to local law enforcement agencies on the guidelines and procedures to be used to handle a report of a missing person;
      3. (iii) provide assistance to a local law enforcement agency, as necessary, to assist in the safe recovery of a missing person;
      4. (iv) recruit public and commercial television and radio broadcasters, local volunteer groups, and other members of the public to assist in developing and implementing a Purple Alert;
      5. (v) consult with the State Highway Administration to establish a plan for providing information relevant to a Purple Alert to the public through the dynamic message sign system located across the State; and

      6. (vi) consult with the State Department of Education to develop a program that:

         1. 1. allows high school students to assist in the search for a missing person under this section;
         2. 2. complies with COMAR 13A.03.02.06; and
         3. 3. is consistent with the student service-learning guidelines developed by the State Department of Education.
   3. (3) The Department of State Police may consult with relevant stakeholders representing citizens with disabilities to develop regulations and procedures to carry out this section.

3. (c) A caregiver or person filing a report regarding a missing person immediately shall notify the local law enforcement agency with which the report was filed and the Department of State Police if:

   1. (1) the missing person who was the subject of the report is located; and
   2. (2) it is unlikely that the local law enforcement agency or the Department of State Police has knowledge that the missing person has been located.

Added by Acts 2024, c. 739, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2024.