KRS 39F.180: Reports of missing, lost, or overdue persons -- Reports of search and

rescue missions -- Golden Alert D -- Golden Alert -- Green Alert --

Administrative regulations on standard operating procedure -- Immediate

search for lost, missing, or overdue person permitted.

(1) All 911 centers and dispatch centers, law enforcement agencies, law enforcement

dispatchers, fire departments, rescue squads, emergency medical service agencies,

and emergency management agencies shall report the information required to be

reported by administrative regulation, for all reports of persons missing, lost, or

overdue, if a search for the lost person has lasted for more than two (2) hours to:

(a) The local emergency management director; and

(b) The local search and rescue coordinator for the jurisdiction in which the

person is reported missing.

(2) (a) Any missing person report for a missing minor, as that term is defined in KRS

2.015, shall be immediately reported to the Department of Kentucky State

Police by the person or organization to whom the missing minor is reported.

(b) A missing person report for an impaired person as defined in KRS

39F.010(3)(a) shall immediately be reported as a Golden Alert D to the local

emergency management director, local search and r escue coordinator if

different from the local emergency manager, local media outlets, and the duty

officer of the Division of Emergency Management by the person managing

the search or by the organization conducting the search, in a manner to be

established by county policy.

(c) A missing person report for an impaired person as defined in KRS

39F.010(3)(b) shall immediately be reported as a Golden Alert to the local

emergency management director, local search and rescue coordinator if

different from the local emergency manager, local media outlets, and the duty

officer of the Division of Emergency Management by the person managing

the search or by the organization conducting the search. The provisions of this

section do not apply to any licensed long -term hea lth care provider

conducting a search for a missing resident until the provider requests a search

by a person or organization specified in subsection (1) of this section.

(d) A missing person report for a veteran at risk shall immediately be reported as

a Green Alert to the local emergency management director, local search and

rescue coordinator if different from the local emergency management

manager, local media outlets, and the duty officer of the Division of

Emergency Management by the person managing t he search or by the

organization conducting the search. The provisions of this section do not

apply to any licensed long-term health care provider conducting a search for a

missing resident until the provider requests a search by a person or

organization specified in subsection (1) of this section.

(e) The duty officer of the Division of Emergency Management shall contact the

Transportation Cabinet if the local search coordinator determines that at any

time during a search the use of electronic highway sign s will aid in the search

and is in the best interest of the missing person.

(f) The making of this report does not relieve the person or organization from the

duty to make other notifications and reports required in this section.

(3) Any search and rescue mission which has lasted four (4) hours without the subject

being located shall be immediately reported to the duty officer of the Division of

Emergency Management by telephone or radio. Any agency, including but not

limited to local law enforcement, the Kentucky State Police, fire departments,

rescue squads, and emergency management, that initiates a search for any missing

person not considered a Golden or Green Alert shall make the notifications

indicated in subsection (2) of this section within four (4) hours of initiation of the

search. Any search by any agency shall be reported to the Division of Emergency

Management by telephone or radio within four (4) hours of initiation by the local

search and rescue coordinator, the local emergency management director, or their

designee.

(4) The results of each lost, missing, or overdue person report or search mission

required to be reported under subsections (1) to (3) of this section shall be reported

to the division and the local director on forms provided by the division and

containing the information required by administrative regulation. The report shall

be filed within twenty (20) days after:

(a) The search and rescue mission is discontinued; or

(b) The victim has not been found and a decision is made to keep the case open or

continue searching on a limited basis, whichever occurs earlier.

(5) Each agency required to notify a local emergency management director or the

division of a report of a missing person, or a search mission pursuant to this section

shall develop a written standard operating procedure for handling and reporting

requests to search for missing, lost, or overdue persons. This standard operating

procedure shall be a public record.

(6) The Transportation Cabinet shall promulgate administrative regulations in

accordance with KRS Chapter 13A to develop a written standard opera ting

procedure for handling and reporting requests made by the duty officer of the

Division of Emergency Management to initiate the use of electronic highway signs

as part of a search for a missing, lost, or overdue person. This standard operating

procedure shall be a public record.

(7) The contents of reports, information to be conveyed upon notification, and other

matters relating to the administration of this section and the securing of information

required hereby shall be specified by the division by administrative regulations.

(8) There is no requirement in Kentucky to delay the search for or rescue of any lost,

missing, or overdue person. Any person who is reported lost, missing, or overdue,

adult or child, may be searched for immediately by any emerge ncy management,

fire, law enforcement, emergency medical services, search and rescue, rescue

squad, or other similar organization to which a missing or overdue person is

reported. Any agency searching for a lost or missing person shall utilize existing

resources, including but not limited to electronic highway signs, the Amber Alert

System, law enforcement communications systems, electronic media, local,

regional, and statewide media providers, and the Integrated Public Alert and

Warning System, if authoriz ed and under conditions permitted by the federal

government. No public safety answering point, emergency dispatch center, or 911

center shall delay any call reporting a person lost, overdue, or missing to the

organization specified in the county search and rescue annex of the county

emergency management plan as responsible for searching for lost, missing, or

overdue persons.