HB221 Alabama 2011 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Steve HurstRepresentative
Republican
Co-Sponsors: Mike Ball Randy Wood Duwayne Bridges Richard J. Laird Alan Boothe Lynn Greer
Session: Regular Session 2011
Title: Public Safety Department, Blue Alert System, established, director to oversee, duties to department, director, and law enforcement agencies, notification when suspect wanted for injuring law enforcement officer or if officer is missing
Summary: HB221 creates a statewide Blue Alert system overseen by the Director of Public Safety to help locate suspects who injure or kill a peace officer or who are missing in the line of duty.
What This Bill Does
It establishes the Blue Alert system and designates the Director of the Department of Public Safety as the statewide coordinator with authority to adopt rules. The Department may recruit media, private entities, and others to help implement the alert and may enter into agreements to support it. Participating law enforcement agencies must cooperate, develop information-sharing plans, and use a rapid-response telephone system to alert residents in a targeted area once the alert is activated. The bill also provides liability protection for those involved in disseminating alerts and sets activation and termination rules for the alerts.

Who It Affects
Law enforcement agencies and peace officers: must cooperate with the Department, help develop and implement the alert system, establish information-sharing plans for officers and staff after activation, and use rapid-response systems to warn the public in a targeted area.
Public, media, private entities, and residents in the alert area: may be recruited to support the alert system and will receive alerts through rapid-response telephone systems and other channels when the alert is activated.

Key Provisions
Creates the Blue Alert system and designates the Director of the Department of Public Safety as statewide coordinator with authority to adopt rules to implement the system.
Allows DPS to recruit media, private entities, government bodies, the public, and others to assist and to enter into agreements to support the alert system.
Requires participating law enforcement agencies to cooperate, develop information-sharing plans, and use a rapid-response telephone system to alert residents in a targeted area after activation.
Provides liability protection for entities or individuals involved in disseminating alerts.
Activates the alert when a suspect in a case involving the death or serious injury of a peace officer has not been apprehended and may threaten the public, or when a peace officer is missing; allows area restrictions and requires verification of criteria before activation and termination conditions when resolved.
Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Public Safety Department