---
kind: "section"
citation: "34 U.S.C. § 21904"
title: "34"
title_heading: "Crime Control and Law Enforcement"
number: "21904"
heading: "Minimum standards for issuance and dissemination of alerts through Ashanti Alert communications network"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/34/21904"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Protection of Children and Other Persons"
  - "Chapter 219 — Ashanti Alert Communications Network"
---

# §21904. Minimum standards for issuance and dissemination of alerts through Ashanti Alert communications network

- (a) **Establishment of minimum standards—** Subject to [subsection (b)](#b), the [Coordinator](/usc/34/21901.md?p=4) shall establish minimum standards for—
  - (1) the issuance of alerts through the [Ashanti Alert communications network](/usc/34/21901.md?p=3); and
  - (2) the extent of the dissemination of alerts issued through the [Ashanti Alert communications network](/usc/34/21901.md?p=3).
- (b) **Limitations—**
  - (1) **Dissemination of information—** The minimum standards established under [subsection (a)](#a) 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), Tribal, and local [law enforcement](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1) agencies), provide for the dissemination of appropriate information relating to the special needs of a [missing adult](/usc/34/21901.md?p=7) (including health care needs) to the appropriate [law enforcement](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1), public health, and other public officials.
  - (2) **Geographic areas—** The minimum standards established under [subsection (a)](#a) 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), Tribal, and local [law enforcement](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1) agencies), provide that the dissemination of an alert through the [Ashanti Alert communications network](/usc/34/21901.md?p=3) shall be limited to the geographic areas that the [missing adult](/usc/34/21901.md?p=7) could reasonably reach, considering—
    - (A) the circumstances and physical and mental condition of the [missing adult](/usc/34/21901.md?p=7);
    - (B) the modes of transportation available to the [missing adult](/usc/34/21901.md?p=7); and
    - (C) the circumstances of the disappearance.
  - (3) **Other requirements—** The minimum standards established under [subsection (a)](#a) shall require that, in order for an [Ashanti Alert](/usc/34/21901.md?p=2) to be issued for a [missing adult](/usc/34/21901.md?p=7), the [missing adult](/usc/34/21901.md?p=7)—
    - (A) suffers from a proven mental or physical disability, as documented by a source determined credible by an appropriate [law enforcement](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1) agency; or
    - (B) be missing under circumstances that indicate, as determined by an appropriate [law enforcement](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1) agency—
      - (i) that the physical safety of the [missing adult](/usc/34/21901.md?p=7) may be endangered; or
      - (ii) that the disappearance of the [missing adult](/usc/34/21901.md?p=7) may not have been voluntary, including an abduction or kidnapping.
  - (4) **Safety, privacy, and civil liberties protections—** The minimum standards established under [subsection (a)](#a) shall—
    - (A) ensure that alerts issued through the [Ashanti Alert communications network](/usc/34/21901.md?p=3) comply with all applicable Federal, [State](/usc/34/21701.md?p=3), Tribal, and local privacy laws and regulations;
    - (B) include standards that specifically provide for the protection of the civil liberties and sensitive medical information of [missing adults](/usc/34/21901.md?p=7); and
    - (C) include standards requiring, as appropriate, a review of relevant court records, prior contacts with [law enforcement](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1), and other information relevant to the [missing adult](/usc/34/21901.md?p=7) or the individual reporting, in order to provide protections against domestic violence.
  - (5) **State, Tribal, and local voluntary coordination—** In establishing minimum standards under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Coordinator](/usc/34/21901.md?p=4) may not interfere with the system of voluntary coordination between local broadcasters and [State](/usc/34/21701.md?p=3), Tribal, and local [law enforcement](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1) agencies for purposes of regional and local search efforts for [missing adults](/usc/34/21901.md?p=7) that was in effect on the day before December 31, 2018.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 106–468, title II, § 204, as added Pub. L. 115–401, § 2(5), Dec. 31, 2018, 132 Stat. 5340.)