Establishes an "Amber Alert" system for missing developmentally disabled persons

1 Co-sponsor

• Terry Gipson

BILL NUMBER:S3876

Title of bill

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing a prompt response and notification program for missing persons with developmental disabilities, Alzheimer's disease or other dementia

Purpose

This legislation will have the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, Office of Mental Health and the Division of State Police create, develop, and regularly update and distribute a model missing persons with developmental disabilities, Alzheimer's disease or other dementia prompt response and notification plan. This plan will take a pro-active coordinated response that may be promptly triggered by law enforcement personnel if a person with a developmental disability, Alzheimer's disease or other dementia are reported missing, similar to the "Amber Alert"

Summary of provisions

Section One - amends Section 837 of the executive law by adding a new subdivision 19 to direct the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, Office of Mental Health, Division of State Police and other agencies to create a model missing persons program for persons with developmental disabilities, Alzheimer's disease or other dementia, This model program will be updated regularly and distributed to local communities and law enforcement personnel.

Section One - also states the model missing persons program will involve a pro-active and coordinated response that can be promptly triggered by law enforcement personnel upon confirmation by a police officer, peace officer or police agency of a missing person with developmental disabilities, Alzheimer's disease or other dementia.

Section One - states at a minimum, these plans will include the name, description and any other pertinent information of the missing person. This information will be promptly dispatched over the police communication system, via electronic, oral or facsimile, and provided to one or more radio stations and other broadcast media outlets serving the community.

It is not mandatory to dispatch or transmit a report if the investigating police department advises that the release of such information may jeopardize the investigation or the safety of the person, or requests forbearance for any reason.

Section Two - states this act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become law.

Justification

Families of people with Alzheimer's often live in fear that there loved one will go missing. In many cases there is no way to get the information about their loved one out to the general public and our first responders quickly and effectively, allowing for their loved ones to suffer tragic consequences.

Alert systems to recover vulnerable missing adults, and persons with special needs have been developed in eleven states throughout the

country. These systems, administered at the state and local levels, are intended to alert law enforcement entities and the public that adults with cognitive impairment or other disabilities are missing and may need assistance.

It is necessary to put a system in place, on behalf of individuals with cognitive or mental impairments like Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, because these developmental disabilities put people at elevated risk of going missing and they are often times unable to make their way home or to a safe place.

This alert program much like the Amber Alert program will quickly distribute information about missing persons to law enforcement, radio, and television stations. It will allow for the alert of the public and law enforcement agencies so that citizens can be on the look out for missing adults.

Legislative history

02/14/12 Recommit, enacting clause stricken

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become law.