Skip to main content
S 665 114th Congress Senate Crime and Law Enforcement Advisory bodies Criminal justice information and records Emergency communications systems Law enforcement administration and funding Law enforcement officers State and local government operations Violent crime

Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National Blue Alert Act of 2015

Introduced: March 4, 2015 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 19 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 19, 2015
Became Public Law No: 114-12.
May 19, 2015
Signed by President.
May 14, 2015
Presented to President.
May 12, 2015
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
May 12, 2015
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2840-2841)
May 12, 2015
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H2840-2841)
May 12, 2015
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 665.
May 12, 2015
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2840-2846)
May 12, 2015
Mr. Goodlatte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
May 5, 2015
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
May 5, 2015
Received in the House.
May 4, 2015
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Apr 30, 2015
Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S2587-2589; text as passed Senate: CR S2588-2589)
Apr 30, 2015
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S2587-2589; text as passed Senate: CR S2588-2589)
Mar 26, 2015
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 33.
Mar 26, 2015
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley without amendment. Without written report.
Mar 26, 2015
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Mar 4, 2015
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1307)
Mar 4, 2015
Introduced in Senate
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate reported version is repeated here.)

Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National Blue Alert Act of 2015

(Sec. 3) Directs the Attorney General to: (1) establish a national Blue Alert communications network within the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue Blue Alerts through the initiation, facilitation, and promotion of Blue Alert plans for the dissemination of information received as a Blue Alert, in coordination with states, local governments, and law enforcement agencies; and (2) assign an existing DOJ officer to act as the national coordinator of the network.

Defines "Blue Alert" as information sent through the network relating to: (1) the serious injury or death of a law enforcement officer in the line of duty, (2) an officer who is missing in connection with the officer's official duties, or (3) an imminent and credible threat that an individual intends to cause the serious injury or death of a law enforcement officer.

(Sec. 4) Sets forth the duties of the national coordinator, including:

  • providing assistance to states and local governments that are using Blue Alert plans;
  • establishing voluntary guidelines for states and local governments to use in developing such plans;
  • developing protocols for efforts to apprehend suspects;
  • working with states to ensure appropriate regional coordination of various elements of the network;
  • establishing an advisory group to assist states, local governments, law enforcement agencies, and other entities in initiating, facilitating, and promoting Blue Alert plans;
  • acting as the nationwide point of contact for the development of the network and the regional coordination of Blue Alerts through the network; and
  • determining what procedures and practices are in use for notifying law enforcement and the public of a Blue Alert and which procedures and practices are effective and do not require the expenditure of additional resources to implement.

Requires the guidelines to: (1) provide that appropriate information relating to a Blue Alert is disseminated to officials of law enforcement, public health, and other agencies; (2) provide mechanisms that ensure that Blue Alerts comply with all applicable federal, state, and local privacy laws and regulations; and (3) include standards that specifically provide for the protection of the civil liberties of law enforcement officers and their families.

Directs the coordinator to report annually on the coordinator's activities and the effectiveness and status of the Blue Alert plans that are in effect or being developed.

What's happening now May 19, 2015

Became Public Law No: 114-12.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2