Amends TCA Title 38, Chapter 6, Part 1.

This bill creates the green alert system within the Tennessee bureau of investigation to provide a statewide system for the rapid dissemination of information to speed the identification and location of a missing veteran at risk. The bill defines "veteran at risk" as a veteran or an active-duty member of the armed forces, the national guard, or the military reserve forces of the United States who is known, based on the information provided by the person making the report, to have a physical or mental health condition that is related to the veteran at risk's service. <br /> <br /> Under this bill, if the TBI receives a report that involves a missing veteran at risk, the TBI must issue an alert providing for rapid dissemination of information statewide regarding the missing veteran at risk. The TBI must make every effort to disseminate the information as quickly as possible when the status of a missing veteran at risk has been reported to a law enforcement agency.<br /> <br /> This bill directs the TBI to adopt uniform guidelines and procedures for issuing an alert. This bill also requires the TBI to: <br /> <br /> (1) Work with the media to encourage participation in the alert; <br /> (2) Consult with the department of transportation to use message signs to assist the public in locating a missing veteran at risk; and <br /> (3) Develop policies to ensure that specific health information about the veteran is not made public. <br /> <br /> This bill authorizes the TBI to use the infrastructure of America's Missing Broadcast Emergency Response (AMBER) alert system to the extent permissible to facilitate an alert. Any entity or individual involved in the dissemination of a green alert generated pursuant to this bill will not be liable for any civil damages arising from such dissemination. <br /> <br /> For rulemaking purposes, this bill will take effect upon becoming a law, but for all other purposes, it will take effect January 1, 2020.<br /> <br />