Senate File 64 advanced out of committee today. The bill would create a green alert program for missing veterans-at-risk.
There wasn’t much discussion about the bill during the meeting, except to note the need for some work to the bill since the state can’t accomplish this program by using the Amber Alert system due to federal regulations.
“What we’re discussing is having it basically go out of a mass emergency messaging system — an Iowa Alert,” said Sen. Mark Lofgren. “We’re kind of waiting to see what the House does.”
Democrat Sen. Kevin Kinney asked what law enforcement isn’t already doing now that it will do with the bill.
John Benson of the Department of Homeland Security informed the committee that the legislature is already paying $400,000 a year for the Alert Iowa program. It’s available across the state for public safety agencies.
He said the Iowa Lottery as well as the Department of Transportation has already reached out with interest to help spread the message of an Alert Iowa situation.
“It’s kind of building on the existing things,” he said.
