HB5 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Juandalynn GivanRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

To create an Ebony Alert System to send an alert to assist in the recovery of a Black youth, including a young woman or girl, under certain circumstances.

Summary

HB5 creates an Ebony Alert System to help recover missing Black youth by alerting the public under defined circumstances.

What This Bill Does

It establishes a new Ebony Alert that can be activated for Black youths (including young women or girls) when they are missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances. Law enforcement can request activation, and the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) must concur before the alert goes out in the targeted area. Alerts would be disseminated through media, electronic flyers, be-on-the-lookout notices, and changeable message signs—especially if a vehicle is involved and identifiable information is available. Activation depends on factors like age (12–25), disability, danger indicators, possible abduction or trafficking, and whether public information could help with a safe recovery, with local resources used to support the effort.

Who It Affects

• Black youths missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances (ages 12–25) and their families or communities, who would receive Ebony Alerts to aid recovery.
• Law enforcement agencies (local LEAs and the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency) and public safety partners, who would determine eligibility, request activation, coordinate dissemination, and implement alert protocols.

Key Provisions

• Creates Ebony Alert System to issue and coordinate alerts for Black youth missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances.
• Activation process: a missing person is reported to a law enforcement agency, the agency determines criteria are met, and the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency concurs before activation within the requested geographic area.
• Dissemination: requires cooperation from radio, television, cable, satellite, and social media; may issue be-on-the-lookout alerts, electronic flyers, or changeable message signs upon activation.
• Changeable message signs may be used if a vehicle may be involved and identifying vehicle information is publicly available.
• Activation criteria (c): missing person aged 12–25; may have a mental or physical disability; missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances with factors like danger to safety, possible abduction or trafficking; agency must determine relevance and that public dissemination could help recovery; local resources have been used; information exists to aid safe recovery.
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval (or upon becoming law by other means).
• Definitions: Ebony Alert means a coordinated notification system to issue alerts for Black youth missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Public Safety & Emergencies