Latest news with #AutismMissingPersonAlertSystemAct
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
House committee passes autism missing person alert system
ATLANTA (WSAV) — House Bill 465, the Autism Missing Person Alert System Act, passed unanimously out of the House Human Relations and Aging Committee, a local legislator said Friday. HB 465 would add autism spectrum disorder to the list of conditions to activate the Mattie's Call state-wide alert system for missing disabled adults. This activation would allow for local law enforcement to prioritize searching waterways and roadways, which is part of Mattie's Call. It would also allow for law enforcement to disclose autism-related behaviors that could help identifying a missing person with autism spectrum disorder, bill sponsor State Representative Carl Gilliard (D-Savannah) said. Activation of the alert system for those with autism spectrum disorder would include guidance to local law enforcement to prioritize waterways and public roadways in their search and to disclose distinctive autism-related behaviors that can identify the missing person. 'Today, I am proud to see House Bill 465, the Autism Missing Person Alert System Act, pass unanimously out of the House Human Relations and Aging Committee,' said Rep. Gilliard. 'This is a vital step forward in ensuring that individuals with autism spectrum disorder, who may be at increased risk of going missing, are given the attention and resources they deserve. I applaud the committee for their dedication to advancing this important legislation, and I look forward to seeing it continue its journey through the legislative process to better protect our most vulnerable citizens. I would also like to extend my thanks to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for their hard work and collaboration in helping to shape this legislation.' HB 465 will now be considered by the House Rules Committee. You can read the full bill here: 20252026-232492Download Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Georgia lawmakers introduce bill to create missing autistic person alert system
Several state representatives want to create a new alert system for when a Georgian with autism spectrum disorder goes missing. According to the proposed Autism Missing Person Alert System Act, lawmakers want to create the new alert system to make a statewide system specifically for helping find missing individuals with autism. The text of House Bill 465 says that it would help local law enforcement agencies find autistic Georgians sooner when they are missing, even if the individual who is missing has difficulties with social interaction and challenges to communication, which the bill calls characteristics of the disorder. HB 465 also says that activating the Autism Missing Person Alert System would not 'prevent or prohibit any other state or local law enforcement agency from taking additional measures in response to the receipt of a missing person report.' [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] RELATED STORIES: Georgia lawmakers file bill to require notifications when deeds filed by non-owners Georgia state senators move to ban doxxing, online stalking GA lawmaker pushes for sexual assault kit testing reform, new oversight committee Should the bill pass, the alert system would not have a mandatory minimum waiting period before an alert can be activated. The legislation also would allow system staff who manage the alert system to 'recruit public and commercial television, radio, cable, print and other media,' in addition to private businesses and other governmental entities to help implement and develop the alert system. Bill text says that means state officials could enter into agreements with participants to ensure the alert system has the support it would need to function. Additionally, the alerts could be activated for searches smaller than a statewide area, if the alert system director 'determines that the nature of the event makes it probable that the individual with autism spectrum disorder did not leave a certain geographic location.' Before asking to activate the alert system, HB 465 says local law enforcement officers and agencies must verify that the provision's criteria are met and assess the appropriate boundaries of the alert, dependent on the individual and the circumstances of their disappearance. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
