SB180 Alabama 2012 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Cam Ward
Republican
Co-Sponsors: Tom Whatley Bryan Taylor Gerald O. Dial Clay Scofield Phillip W. Williams Paul Bussman Dick Brewbaker Greg J. Reed Jimmy Holley Rusty Glover Paul Sanford Ben H. Brooks Gerald H. Allen Mark Slade Blackwell
Session: Regular Session 2012
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: SB180 creates a statewide Blue Alert system overseen by the Director of the Department of Public Safety to help locate suspects who injure or threaten peace officers or missing officers.
What This Bill Does
It establishes the Blue Alert system and designates the Director as the statewide coordinator who can adopt rules to implement it. It allows activation when a suspect in a case involving the death or serious injury of a peace officer is not apprehended and may threaten the public, or when a peace officer is missing in the line of duty. It requires participating law enforcement agencies to cooperate, share information, use a rapid notification system, and it provides liability protection for individuals and entities disseminating alerts unless there is gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing.

Who It Affects
Law enforcement agencies in Alabama: must cooperate with the Department, develop and share information plans, and implement the Blue Alert system.
Media outlets, private entities, government entities, and the general public: may participate in disseminating alerts; disseminators are protected from civil liability unless there is unreasonable, wanton, willful, or intentional conduct.

Key Provisions
Establishes the Blue Alert system and designates the Director of the Department of Public Safety as statewide coordinator with authority to adopt implementing rules.
Activates the alert when a suspect in a death/serious injury case or a missing peace officer meets specified criteria and sufficient information is available to aid public locating efforts; allows area to be smaller than statewide.
Requires law enforcement agencies to verify criteria, cooperate, share information, and use a rapid response notification system; authorizes recruitment and agreements with media and other participants to support the alert.
Limits civil liability for entities or individuals disseminating alerts unless there is unreasonable, wanton, willful, or intentional conduct; directs notice to director when the suspect is located or the officer found.
Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after approval by the Governor.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Public Safety Department