House gives initial approval to create Amber Alert system

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Local and state law enforcement agencies would work together to alert the public to suspected kidnappings under a bill given initial House approval Thursday.

The measure, which now awaits a final House vote, would create a statewide Amber Alert system, nicknamed for 9-year-old Texas girl abducted and murdered in 1996. Believing that instant publicity might have saved Amber Hagerman, citizens persuaded a radio station to begin broadcasting reports of possible kidnappings.

Several states -- and some Missouri communities -- have since adopted systems of immediate radio and TV broadcasts of apparent child abductions.

Missouri is already developing a statewide system, under an executive order issued by Gov. Bob Holden last fall. But some legislators believe the state should have a law on the subject.

Sponsoring Rep. Vicki Schneider, R-O'Fallon, said her bill could allow the state to get federal money while generating publicity for the alert system and possibly discouraging would-be kidnappers.

Under the bill, the state Department of Public Safety would coordinate the program with broadcasters and with law enforcement agencies that chose to participate.

The Department of Transportation would not be required to participate, but it has volunteered the use of its electronic highway signs to post messages about kidnappings.

Legislative researchers estimate the cost to the state at $91,000 this year and about $60,000 in each of the next two years, for equipment and for a new state employee to coordinate the program.

Democrats raised several objections, noting that Holden has essentially done the same thing by executive order.

"We have an effective system in place," said Rep. Rachel Bringer, D-Palmyra. "Are we duplicating the oversight committee, are we spending money we don't need to when the system is already in place?"

Schneider said the cost was negligible if victims were saved.

"What kind of price can you put on one child being taken?" said Schneider, who was abducted as a child. "Ninety-one thousand dollars is nothing compared to what a child goes through in being taken."

Rep. Cathy Jolly, D-Kansas City, questioned the provision for optional county participation. She said someone might grab a child in one county and then flee to another county that had not joined the statewide system.

But Rep. Richard Byrd said the state would be obligated to cover counties' costs if they were required to participate in the program.

"If we turn this into a forced mandate, then we're on line for all local law enforcement agencies' costs," said Byrd, R-Kirkwood.

Byrd said he would prefer to keep the program optional to start and consider making participating mandatory in future years.

Rep. Margaret Donnelly, D-St. Louis, successfully amended the bill to create the misdemeanor of making a false abduction report.

"I'm just very concerned that we not have a system in which someone feels they can get publicity or perhaps pursue a domestic-violence victim," Donnelly said.

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Amber Alert bill is HB185 (Phillips).

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Missouri Legislature: http://www.moga.state.mo.us