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United States · Law · S

S. 665 (114th)

Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National Blue Alert Act of 2015

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

4 March 2015

Last action

19 May 2015 · Became law

Status

Became Public Law No: 114-12.

Sponsors

Rep. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD-3], Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC], Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT], Chuck Grassley, Richard Durbin, Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH], Sheldon Whitehouse, Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO], Christopher Coons, John Hoeven, Rep. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA-6], Mark Warner, Sen. Heitkamp, Heidi [D-ND], Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH], Thomas Tillis, John Cornyn, Jeanne Shaheen, Mitch McConnell, Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Gary Peters, Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN], Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA], Charles Schumer, Sen. Toomey, Patrick [R-PA], Richard Blumenthal, Rep. Nelson, Bill [D-FL-11]

Subjects

Healthcare

Source updated

10 August 2026

Healthcare

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National Blue Alert Act of 2015 Directs the Attorney General to: (1) establish a national Blue Alert communications network within the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue Blue Alerts through the initiation, facilitation, and promotion of Blue Alert plans for the dissemination of information received as a Blue Alert, in coordination with states, local governments, and law enforcement agencies; and (2) assign an existing DOJ officer to act as the national coordinator of the network. Defines "Blue Alert" as information sent through the network relating to: (1) the serious injury or death of a law enforcement officer in the line of duty, (2) an officer who is missing in connection with the officer's official duties, or (3) an imminent and credible threat that an individual intends to cause the serious injury or death of a law enforcement officer. Sets forth the duties of the national coordinator, including: providing assistance to states and local governments that are using Blue Alert plans; establishing voluntary guidelines for states and local governments to use in developing such plans; developing protocols for efforts to apprehend suspects; working with states to ensure appropriate regional coordination of various elements of the network; establishing an advisory group to assist states, local governments, law enforcement agencies, and other entities in initiating, facilitating, and promoting Blue Alert plans; acting as the nationwide point of contact for the development of the network and the regional coordination of Blue Alerts through the network; and determining what procedures and practices are in use for notifying law enforcement and the public of a Blue Alert and which procedures and practices are effective and do not require the expenditure of additional resources to implement. Requires the guidelines to: (1) provide that appropriate information relating to a Blue Alert is disseminated to officials of law enforcement, public health, and other agencies; (2) provide mechanisms that ensure that Blue Alerts comply with all applicable federal, state, and local privacy laws and regulations; and (3) include standards that specifically provide for the protection of the civil liberties of law enforcement officers and their families. Directs the coordinator to report annually on the coordinator's activities and the effectiveness and status of the Blue Alert plans that are in effect or being developed.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 4 March 2015

    Introduced

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1307)

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 4 March 2015

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 26 March 2015

    Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 33.

    Source: Calendars

  4. 26 March 2015

    Reported

    Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

    Source: Committee

  5. 26 March 2015

    Reported

    Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley without amendment. Without written report.

    Source: Committee

  6. 30 April 2015

    Passed

    Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S2587-2589; text as passed Senate: CR S2588-2589)

    Source: Floor

  7. 30 April 2015

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S2587-2589; text as passed Senate: CR S2588-2589)

    Source: Floor

  8. 4 May 2015

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

  9. 5 May 2015

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

    Source: IntroReferral

  10. 5 May 2015

    Floor

    Received in the House.

    Source: Floor

  11. 12 May 2015

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  12. 12 May 2015

    Passed

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2840-2841)

    Source: Floor

  13. 12 May 2015

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H2840-2841)

    Source: Floor

  14. 12 May 2015

    Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 665.

    Source: Floor

  15. 12 May 2015

    Floor

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2840-2846)

    Source: Floor

  16. 12 May 2015

    Floor

    Mr. Goodlatte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

    Source: Floor

  17. 14 May 2015

    Floor

    Presented to President.

    Source: Floor

  18. 14 May 2015

    President

    Presented to President.

    Source: President

  19. 19 May 2015

    Became law

    Became Public Law No: 114-12.

    Source: President

  20. 19 May 2015

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

  21. 19 May 2015

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

17 official files

Enrolled Bill (text)

View fileDownload file

Sponsors

Related records

Sources

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