94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
HB1180

 

Introduced 2/8/2005, by Rep. Edward J. Acevedo

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
20 ILCS 2605/2605-480

    Amends the Department of State Police Law. Provides that any radio or television broadcast station or cable television system participating in an emergency alert program and any director, officer, employee, or agent of that station or system shall be immune from liability to any person for damages or losses caused or allegedly caused by, and shall not be subjected to a criminal or civil fine or penalty for, the broadcast or cablecast or failure to broadcast or cablecast any information pursuant to the emergency alert program. Effective immediately.


LRB094 09368 RSP 39613 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB1180 LRB094 09368 RSP 39613 b

1     AN ACT concerning State government.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Department of State Police Law of the Civil
5 Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by changing Section
6 2605-480 as follows:
 
7     (20 ILCS 2605/2605-480)
8     Sec. 2605-480. Statewide kidnapping alert and prevention
9 program; Child Safety Coordinator; immunity.
10     (a) The Department of State Police shall develop a
11 coordinated program for a statewide emergency alert system when
12 a child is missing or kidnapped. The system shall include, but
13 is not limited to, the use in coordination with the Illinois
14 Department of Transportation, of electronic message signs on
15 roads and highways in the vicinity of a child abduction to
16 immediately provide critical information to the public.
17     (b) The Department of State Police shall establish an AMBER
18 Plan Task Force to monitor and review the implementation and
19 operation of the system developed under subsection (a),
20 including procedures, budgetary requirements, and response
21 protocols. The Task Force shall also develop additional network
22 resources for use in the system.
23     (c) The Department of State Police, in coordination with
24 the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, shall develop and
25 implement a community outreach program to promote awareness
26 among the State's parents and children of child abduction
27 prevention and response.
28     (d) The Department of State Police, in coordination with
29 the State Board of Education, shall develop child abduction
30 prevention instruction for inclusion in elementary and
31 secondary school curricula throughout the State. The
32 Department and State Board of Education shall encourage the

 

 

HB1180 - 2 - LRB094 09368 RSP 39613 b

1 inclusion of the child abduction prevention instruction in
2 private elementary and secondary school curricula throughout
3 the State.
4     (e) The Department shall appoint a Child Safety Coordinator
5 to assist in the establishment of State standards for child
6 safety from kidnap and abduction and to advocate for the
7 achievement of those standards. The Child Safety Coordinator
8 shall have the qualifications and experience that the
9 Department shall require by rule. The Child Safety Coordinator
10 shall receive no compensation but shall be reimbursed for his
11 or her expenses from the Department's operations budget. No
12 funds shall be appropriated solely for the expenses of the
13 Child Safety Coordinator. The Department shall provide
14 technical assistance for the Child Safety Coordinator from its
15 existing resources.
16     (f) Any radio or television broadcast station or cable
17 television system participating in a statewide emergency alert
18 program or in any local or regional emergency alert program and
19 any director, officer, employee, or agent of that station or
20 system shall be immune from liability to any person for damages
21 or losses caused or allegedly caused by, and shall not be
22 subjected to a criminal or civil fine or penalty for, the
23 broadcast or cablecast or failure to broadcast or cablecast any
24 information pursuant to an emergency alert authorized under
25 this Section.
26 (Source: P.A. 92-259, eff. 1-1-02; 92-468, eff. 8-22-01;
27 93-310, eff. 7-23-03.)
 
28     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
29 becoming law.