---
kind: "section"
citation: "34 U.S.C. § 20502"
title: "34"
title_heading: "Crime Control and Law Enforcement"
number: "20502"
heading: "Minimum standards for issuance and dissemination of alerts through AMBER Alert communications network"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/34/20502"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Protection of Children and Other Persons"
  - "Chapter 205 — Amber Alert"
---

# §20502. Minimum standards for issuance and dissemination of alerts through AMBER Alert communications network

- (a) **Establishment of minimum standards—** Subject to [subsection (b)](#b), the AMBER Alert [Coordinator](/usc/34/21901.md?p=4) of the Department of Justice shall establish minimum standards for—
  - (1) the issuance of alerts through the [AMBER Alert communications network](/usc/34/21901.md?p=1); and
  - (2) the extent of the dissemination of alerts issued through the network.
- (b) **Limitations—**
  - (1) The minimum standards established under [subsection (a)](#a) shall be adoptable on a voluntary basis only.
  - (2) The minimum standards shall, to the maximum extent practicable (as determined by the [Coordinator](/usc/34/21901.md?p=4) in consultation with [State](/usc/34/21701.md?p=3), territorial, tribal, and local [law enforcement](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1) agencies), provide that appropriate information relating to the special needs of an abducted child (including health care needs) are disseminated to the appropriate [law enforcement](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1), public health, and other public officials.
  - (3) The minimum standards shall, to the maximum extent practicable (as determined by the [Coordinator](/usc/34/21901.md?p=4) in consultation with [State](/usc/34/21701.md?p=3), territorial, tribal, and local [law enforcement](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1) agencies), provide that the dissemination of an alert through the [AMBER Alert communications network](/usc/34/21901.md?p=1) be limited to the geographic areas most likely to facilitate the recovery of the abducted child concerned.
  - (4) In carrying out activities under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Coordinator](/usc/34/21901.md?p=4) may not interfere with the current system of voluntary coordination between local broadcasters and [State](/usc/34/21701.md?p=3), territorial, tribal, and local [law enforcement](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1) agencies for purposes of the [AMBER Alert communications network](/usc/34/21901.md?p=1).
- (c) **Cooperation—**
  - (1) The [Coordinator](/usc/34/21901.md?p=4) shall cooperate with the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Federal Communications Commission in carrying out activities under this section.
  - (2) The [Coordinator](/usc/34/21901.md?p=4) shall also cooperate with local broadcasters and [State](/usc/34/21701.md?p=3), territorial, tribal, and local [law enforcement](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1) agencies in establishing minimum standards under this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 108–21, title III, § 302, Apr. 30, 2003, 117 Stat. 661; Pub. L. 116–283, div. H, title C, § 10001(a)(2), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4861.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 5791a of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

### Amendments

2021—Subsec. (b)(2) to (4). Pub. L. 116–283, § 10001(a)(2)(A), inserted “, territorial, tribal,” after “State”.

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 116–283, § 10001(a)(2)(B)(i), inserted “, the Secretary of Homeland Security,” after “Secretary of Transportation”.

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 116–283, § 10001(a)(2)(B)(ii), inserted “, territorial, tribal,” after “State”.