TBI must run the Blue Alert system, issue alerts in qualifying cases, and protect certain health information from disclosure.
There is established within the Tennessee bureau of investigation (TBI) the Blue Alert system. The purpose of the Blue Alert system is to provide a statewide system for the rapid dissemination of information to speed the apprehension of violent criminals who kill or seriously injure law enforcement officers and to aid in the location of missing law enforcement officers. If the TBI receives a report that involves the death or serious injury of a law enforcement officer in which the suspect has not been apprehended or involves a law enforcement officer missing while in the line of duty under circumstances warranting concern for such law enforcement officer's safety, the TBI shall issue an alert providing for rapid dissemination of information statewide regarding such suspect or law enforcement officer, as appropriate. The TBI shall make every effort to disseminate the information as quickly as possible when the status of the suspect or missing law enforcement officer has been reported to a law enforcement agency. The TBI shall adopt uniform guidelines and procedures for issuing an alert for such persons and shall provide education and training to encourage radio and television broadcasters to participate in the alert. The guidelines and procedures shall ensure that specific health information about any suspect or law enforcement officer is not made public through the alert or otherwise. The TBI shall consult with the department of transportation and develop a procedure for the use of overhead permanent changeable message signs to provide information on a missing suspect or law enforcement officer meeting the criteria of this section when information is available that would enable motorists to assist in the recovery of the missing person. The TBI and the department of transportation shall develop guidelines for the content, length, and frequency of any message to be placed on an overhead permanent changeable message sign. The TBI may use the statewide infrastructure of the America's Missing Broadcast Emergency Response (AMBER) Alert to the extent permissible to facilitate the Blue Alert system. Any entity or individual involved in the dissemination of a Blue Alert generated pursuant to this section shall not be liable for any civil damages arising from such dissemination.