Lawmakers Finally Act On EAS Bill

A Senate committee has voted to require that all local law enforcement agencies activate the Emergency Alert System when a child is taken. The measure would designate the CHP as lead agency. Assemblyman George Runner introduced the bill last year, but it languished until last week´s kidnapping of two teenage girls in Lancaster drew national attention. The EAS, once called the Emergency Broadcast System, sends out a tone over radio airwaves, alerting the public that a child has been taken.