Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Nevada’s Amber Alert bill goes to governor

CARSON CITY -- The Senate has sent to Gov. Kenny Guinn a bill to allow the creation of a statewide Amber Alert system to help law enforcement find children who have been abducted.

Assembly Bill 322 allows the governor to create a 12-member committee of law enforcement and broadcasters to develop a statewide alert system.

It would be a voluntary partnership of law enforcement and broadcasters. Committee memebers and the state attorney general's office would establish the system's components and evaluate its workings.

There is no money appropriated to start the system but the committee could accept gifts and grants to get the project off the ground.

A law enforcement agency that joined the system would be able to broadcast an emergency bulletin on television, radio or the Internet if a child under 18 was abducted and was considered to be in danger of serious physical harm or even death.

The agency would describe the child and the suspected abductor.

Amber Alert systems in other parts of the country have led to the recovery of children before they were harmed.

The vote on AB322 was unanimous.

The Senate also passed a bill allowing the state Agriculture Department to regulate use of commercial fertilizers to avert an Oklahoma City-type bombing.

Assembly Bill 193 gives authority to the department's director to regulate the sale and transportation of commercial fertilizers and agricultural minerals.

The vote on AB193 was 20-1 with Sen. Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas, dissenting. He suggested the definition of a dangerous fertilizer was too broad. This bill also goes to the governor.

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