Sec. 10. The department shall adopt guidelines for the operation and administration of the blue alert program, including the following:

(1) Procedures for a law enforcement agency to notify the department of the circumstances described in section 8(a)(1) of this chapter.

(2) The information that a law enforcement agency must provide to the department before issuing a blue alert.

(3) Procedures for the department to follow in confirming a law enforcement agency's information and reporting the information to each designated broadcaster or electronic billboard operator.

(4) Guidelines governing the voluntary blue alert program agreement between the department and a broadcaster. The agreement may include the following provisions:

(A) Upon receiving a notification as part of the blue alert program, the broadcaster shall broadcast the information contained in the notice on an intermittent basis for a period of time as provided in the agreement between the department and the broadcaster.

(B) The broadcaster shall treat the blue alert notification as an emergency.

(C) The broadcaster shall ensure that the facsimile transmission machine or other communication device used to receive a blue alert notification is:

(i) generally available to receive a blue alert notification; and

(ii) located such that the broadcaster will immediately become aware of an incoming blue alert notification.

(5) Guidelines governing the voluntary blue alert program agreement between the department and an electronic billboard operator. The agreement may include the following provisions:

(A) Upon receiving a notification as part of the blue alert program, the electronic billboard operator shall display the information contained in the notice on an intermittent basis for a period of time as provided in the agreement between the department and the electronic billboard operator.

(B) The electronic billboard operator shall treat the blue alert notification as an emergency.

(C) The electronic billboard operator shall ensure that the facsimile transmission machine or other communication device used to receive a blue alert notification is:

(i) generally available to receive a blue alert notification; and

(ii) located such that the electronic billboard operator will immediately become aware of an incoming blue alert notification received during days and times when staff is present to receive a blue alert notification.

(D) A limitation on the days and times that the electronic billboard operator is required to have staff present to receive a blue alert notification.

(6) The guidelines may require department staff, upon a determination by the department to issue a blue alert, to immediately send by facsimile transmission or other means of communication the information that the department considers necessary to one (1) or more electronic billboard operators participating in the blue alert program if the blue alert occurs during a period when the electronic billboard operator has agreed to have staff present to receive a blue alert notification.

(7) Guidelines to ensure that releasing victim information is proper, as to avoid improper next of kin notification.

(8) Guidelines to ensure that release of the information will not compromise the investigation.

As added by P.L.38-2013, SEC.1.