State Rep. John Piscopo (R-Thomaston) on Wednesday threw his support behind an alert system designed to help find senior citizens and disabled adults who go missing.
The bill creating a “Silver Alert” system received unanimous approval. The state Senate had already approved the legislation, which now goes to the governor for her signature, before it becomes law.
Finding adults with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and other diagnosed mental disabilities if they wander away or disappear is the end-goal of the Silver Alert system. It is modeled after the Amber Alert system used to build publicity about missing children. Components include broadcasting emergency messages on radio stations.
“Family members and loved ones of those who go missing deserve to have this tool available to them and law enforcement agencies when they seek to find them,” said Rep. Piscopo. “I am pleased to have supported this bill, which can help many people in a time of need.”
More than a dozen states have Silver Alert programs and legislatures in several other states currently have similar systems under consideration.