(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. (2) "Caregiver" means a parent, spouse, guardian, legal custodian, or person responsible for the supervision of another adult. (3) "Law enforcement agency" means a State, county, or municipal police department or agency, or a sheriff's department. (4) "Missing person" means an individual: (i) whose whereabouts are unknown; (ii) who suffers a cognitive impairment including a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or dementia to the extent that the individual requires assistance from a caregiver; and (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. (b) (1) The Department of State Police shall establish a Silver Alert Program to provide a system for rapid dissemination of information to assist in locating a missing person. (2) The Department of State Police shall: (i) adopt guidelines and develop procedures for issuing a Silver Alert for a missing person; (ii) provide training to local law enforcement agencies on the guidelines and procedures to be used to handle a report of a missing person; (iii) provide assistance to a local law enforcement agency, as necessary, to assist in the safe recovery of a missing person; (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 Silver Alert; (v) consult with the State Highway Administration to establish a plan for providing information relevant to a Silver Alert to the public through the dynamic message sign system located across the State; and (vi) consult with the State Department of Education to develop a program that: 1. allows high school students to assist in the search for a missing person under this section; 2. complies with COMAR 13A.03.02.06; and 3. is consistent with the student service-learning guidelines developed by the State Department of Education. (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) the missing person who was the subject of the report is located; and (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.
‹ Prev All Maryland sections Next ›
Lexace provides legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney–client relationship is created. Statute text is provided for general information and may not reflect the most recent amendments; verify against the official state code.