Section 650.535

Title XL ADDITIONAL EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS

Chapter 650

Effective - 28 Aug 2026, see footnote   

  650.535.  RJ's law — purple alert system for missing persons with developmental disabilities — department and agency duties — rules. — 1.  This section shall be known and may be cited as "RJ's Law".

  2.  There is hereby created within the department of public safety a statewide program called the "Purple Alert System" to aid in the identification and location, through immediate and effective community and emergency response, of missing persons with developmental disabilities whose disappearance poses a credible threat of immediate danger or serious bodily harm to the missing persons and who are believed to be unable to return to safety without assistance.

  3.  For purposes of this section, "developmental disability" includes the following:

  (1)  A mental or cognitive disability, which shall not include, for persons sixty years of age or older, Alzheimer's disease or a dementia-related disorder;

  (2)  An intellectual disability;

  (3)  A brain injury;

  (4)  Other physical, mental, or emotional disabilities that are not related to substance abuse; or

  (5)  Any combination of such conditions.

  4.  Before July 1, 2027, the department of public safety, in cooperation with the Missouri state highway patrol, department of transportation, department of mental health, local developmental disability resource boards, the state lottery, and local law enforcement agencies shall:

  (1)  Develop a training program and alert system for missing persons who have developmental disabilities that is compatible with existing alert systems in the state.  The training program shall implement crisis intervention team training to equip law enforcement officers with the skills necessary to understand developmental disabilities, to de-escalate interactions with persons in crisis, to facilitate appropriate interventions, and to respond effectively to a reported missing person emergency when the person has a developmental disability;

  (2)  Establish policies and procedures for responding to a reported missing person emergency when the person has a developmental disability.  The policies shall, at a minimum, provide for the following:

  (a)  Immediate and widespread dissemination of critical information when a person who has a developmental disability is reported missing;

  (b)  Enhancement of emergency response teams' competence by informing them of the unique behaviors and needs of persons with developmental disabilities; and

  (c)  Measures to increase public awareness and understanding of the risks associated with developmental disability-related elopement to foster community support for persons with developmental disabilities; and

  (3)  Require a law enforcement agency to do the following, at a minimum, upon receiving a report:

  (a)  Contact media outlets in the affected area or surrounding jurisdictions;

  (b)  Inform all on-duty law enforcement officers of the reported missing person with a developmental disability; and

  (c)  Communicate the report to all other law enforcement agencies in the counties surrounding the county in which the report is filed.

  5.  The department of public safety shall administer and promulgate rules for the implementation of the alert system established under this section.  Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028.  This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2026, shall be invalid and void.

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(L. 2026 H.B. 1840)