GREEN ALERTS-VETERANS

104th Regular Session Introduced by Christopher Belt

Creates a Green Alert for missing veterans/service members, with ISP toolkit, training, and a task force to standardize responses and speed locating at-risk individuals.

Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

SB 1674 — “Green Alert” (Veterans) — Summary

Status: Introduced (Illinois), sponsor Sen. Christopher Belt (companion HB 4178).
Primary purpose: create a statewide “Green Alert” program and toolkit for rapid public/law‑enforcement dissemination when a veteran, active service member, Illinois National Guard member, or reservist is missing or believed to be at risk of harming themselves or being harmed.

What the bill would do

Add a “Green Alert” component to the Illinois Endangered Missing Person Advisory (the statewide rapid‑alert system).

Direct the Illinois State Police (ISP) to develop and implement a coordinated statewide Green Alert awareness program and toolkit for cases involving veterans and current/former service members.

Require ISP to complete development and deployment of the Green Alert program and toolkit on or before July 1, 2027.

Task Force, coordination, and administration

Require ISP to establish a Green Alert Task Force within 90 days after the bill’s effective date to assist with development, deployment, monitoring, and review of the program.

The Task Force must review procedures, budget needs, standards, training requirements for law enforcement on interacting appropriately with veterans/service members, and other operational matters.

The Task Force is required to meet at least twice per year and to submit an annual report on the Green Alert Program to the General Assembly and Governor by June 30 each year.

The Child Safety Coordinator (an existing position under the Endangered Missing Person framework) will also serve as Green Alert Program Coordinator.

Training and protocols

The Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board must conduct training for local law enforcement on the Green Alert program and toolkit.

The Board must adopt written protocols and guidelines for handling missing‑person cases involving veterans/active service members/Guard/reservists on or before July 1, 2026, based on protocols developed by the Task Force and ISP.

Who is affected

Primary beneficiaries: veterans, active service members, members of the Illinois National Guard, and reservists who are missing or at risk.

Implementing/affected agencies: Illinois State Police, Law Enforcement Training Standards Board, Child Safety Coordinator, and local law‑enforcement agencies; also involved state agencies and stakeholder organizations included on the Task Force.

General public: may receive Green Alerts when applicable, improving odds of locating high‑risk missing veterans/service members.

Fiscal and procedural notes

The bill contemplates outreach and coordination with other entities (e.g., healthcare, veteran organizations); some outreach provisions are noted as “subject to appropriation,” indicating funding would need to be authorized.

Key deadlines: Task Force created within 90 days; training protocols adopted by 7/1/2026; program developed/deployed by 7/1/2027; annual reporting by June 30 each year.

Potential impacts

Operational: standardizes and centralizes procedures to locate missing veterans and enhance law‑enforcement response through training and a dedicated toolkit.

Administrative/cost: may require agency staff time, training resources, and possible appropriations to support outreach, technology, and Task Force operations (no specific appropriation in bill text).

Public safety: expected to accelerate information sharing and improve outcomes in high‑risk missing‑person cases involving veterans and service members.