KRS 16.175: Abduction of children -- Kentucky Amber alert system -- Department to

operate in cooperation with other agencies.

(1) The Department of Kentucky State Police, in cooperation with the Transportation

Cabinet, the Division of Emergency Management, the Ken tucky Broadcasters

Association, and the Kentucky Press Association, shall operate a system to notify

the public when a child has been abducted and the department determines that

public notification might aid in the recovery of the child. The system shall b e

known as the Kentucky Amber alert system.

(2) The system shall utilize existing resources, including but not limited to electronic

highway signs, the emergency broadcast system, law enforcement communications

systems, and local, regional, and statewide media providers.

(3) No public alert using the system shall be issued unless the department, in

consultation with the law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction in which the

abduction of a minor occurred, has determined:

(a) That the minor has actually been abducted or that all available evidence

strongly indicates that the minor has been abducted;

(b) That public notification is the most appropriate method of recovering the child

in a safe and efficient manner; and

(c) The geographic area in which the notification shall be made.

(4) If it is determined by the department that public notification shall be initiated, the

department shall notify the public and private agencies and organizations which will

actually provide the notification and shall provide those organizations and agencies

with the information which the department deems necessary.

(5) All law enforcement agencies in the Commonwealth shall cooperate with the

department in the provision and dissemination of information regarding any

abducted minor.

(6) No law enforcement agency, other than the department, shall activate the

notification system specified in this section without the authority of the department.

(7) The system shall be operated by all agencies of the Commonwealth within existing

budgetary appropriations.