Premise Alert Program

The Columbia Police Department (CPD) is in the process of completing the installation of our new Computer Aided Dispatching (CAD) system. This system will allow emergency vehicles to be dispatched over a computer mounted inside the vehicle. There are a number of benefits to having this system. A couple of the benefits are that the CAD system will identify the closest emergency vehicle to the scene of the call so that the response is quicker, give the driver turn by turn directions to the address, and provide a history of calls for service at that address.

Premise Alert Program

The Illinois General Assembly recently passed Public Act 096-0788 which is known as the Illinois Premise Alert Program (PAP) Act. This Act seeks to afford people with disabilities or special needs or both the same access to public safety services provided to all citizens. This Act requires public safety agencies who utilize a CAD system to maintain a database of individual’s with: "Disabilities" which is defined as physical or mental impairments that substantially limit one or more of the major life activities; a record of such impairment; or when the individual is regarded as having such impairment.

"Special needs individuals" which is defined as those individuals who have or are at increased risk for a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition and who also require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by individuals generally.

Act Requirements

This Act requires us to notify the public that we will maintain this database and ask parents, guardians, family members, or a caregiver of the individual who meets either of these definitions to provide us with the necessary information to populate this database.

Information Needed

The information needed for the database consists of the individual’s name, date of birth, phone number, and residential address or place of employment. No individual may be entered into a PAP database unless the special need has been verified by one of the following; family members, friends, caregivers, or medical personnel familiar with the individual. We will also ask for written permission from a parent, guardian, family member, or caregiver of the individual prior to being entered into the database.

PAP Notification Form

If you would like to provide the CPD with information regarding individuals who meet the requirements of this Act you may do so by filling out the PAP Notification Form and returning it to the CPD. The forms are available at the CPD and City Hall, or visit the Document Center (PDF) to print one.

If you would like to view this Act you can do so by going to Illinois website and viewing Public Act 096-0788.