Rhode Island § 42-28-3.3 § 42-28-3.3. Senior citizen alert.

Rhode Island Statutes

§ 42-28-3.3 — § 42-28-3.3. Senior citizen alert.

Rhode Island § 42-28-3.3

Title 42State Affairs and Government

Ch. 42-28State Police

This text of Rhode Island § 42-28-3.3 (§ 42-28-3.3. Senior citizen alert.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Rhode Island primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-28-3.3 (2026).

Text

§ 42-28-3.3. Senior citizen alert.
(a) The general assembly hereby finds that, in the case of a missing senior citizen, the
            first few hours are critical in finding such senior citizen, and that the implementation
            of a Missing Senior Citizen Alert program is necessary for the immediate preservation
            of the public peace, health, and safety.
         
(b) The division of state police, in consultation with other appropriate agencies, including
            without limitation, the Rhode Island department of health, shall develop a voluntary
            partnership among law enforcement agencies, media outlets, and other appropriate entities
      

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§ 42-28-3.3. Senior citizen alert.

(a) The general assembly hereby finds that, in the case of a missing senior citizen, the first few hours are critical in finding such senior citizen, and that the implementation of a Missing Senior Citizen Alert program is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.

(b) The division of state police, in consultation with other appropriate agencies, including without limitation, the Rhode Island department of health, shall develop a voluntary partnership among law enforcement agencies, media outlets, and other appropriate entities to send out emergency alerts entitled the "Missing Senior Citizen Alert Program.â€�

(c) For purposes of this section and § 42-28-3.4, a "Missing Senior Citizenâ€� means a person:

(1) Whose whereabouts are unknown;

(2) Whose domicile at the time the person is reported missing is Rhode Island;

(3) Whose age at the time the person is reported missing is sixty (60) years of age or older, or is a person with a diagnosis of dementia;

(4) Who has an impaired mental condition; and

(5) Whose disappearance poses a credible threat to the safety and health of such person, as determined by the state police or other law enforcement agency.

(d) The impaired mental condition shall be demonstrated by the appropriate documentation presented by the missing senior citizen's family, legal guardian, long-term care ombudsman, or long-term care facility where such person resides.

(e) The missing senior citizen alert program shall provide a proactive emergency public alert plan as part of the response to the disappearance of a missing senior citizen that may be expediently triggered by law enforcement personnel in accordance with protocols and procedures established by the division of state police in consultation with appropriate law enforcement authorities, the Rhode Island emergency management agency, the Rhode Island department of health, state and local officials, and cooperating members of the broadcast media ("Missing Senior Citizen Alertâ€�).

(f) Once a law enforcement agency has confirmed the disappearance of a missing senior citizen, the law enforcement agency will obtain descriptive information for the missing senior citizen alert, contact the state police to provide the descriptive information to the state police and identify a point of contact within its agency.