Legislation to ensure that alerts are more widely disseminated when a child has been abducted has been signed into law by Governor Chris Christie.
The law (A-2781/S-1431) requires Amber Alerts be distributed via text message to public officers and employees issued cellular phones or electronic communication devices by their employer.
Specifically, the law will require the employee to enroll in the national Wireless Amber Alerts Initiative, which is a voluntary partnership among the wireless industry, the United States Department of Justice, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to distribute Amber Alert text messages to wireless subscribers who register.
The law requires employees with work-issued cell phones – such as certain Division of Youth and Family Services and Department of Transportation employees working in the field – at a minimum, to enroll to receive Amber Alert text messages in the zip code that corresponds to the municipalities where they live and work.
The requirement would apply only if the wireless provider participates in the national Wireless Amber Alerts Initiative, and if the phone is capable of receiving text messages, and subscribed to a plan that allows text messages.
The bill was approved unanimously by the Senate in May by a vote of 40-0. The Assembly passed it Monday by a 73-0-1 vote. The law takes effect immediately.
