Illinois House Bill HB2921

Illinois 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/16/23
• Refer: 2/28/23
• Refer: 2/16/23
• Refer: 5/19/23

Caption

AGING-PERSONS WHO WANDER

Impact

Under HB2921, any funding provided for these local recovery programs will be strictly allocated for purchasing electronic bracelets, training volunteers, and community outreach initiatives. The bill emphasizes that all funding will come from private donations, creating a specific Local Recovery Programs for Persons Who Wander Fund. This structure aims to foster community involvement and resource mobilization while ensuring that allocated funds are exclusively used for the intended purposes of the program.

Summary

House Bill 2921 aims to address the issue of individuals who wander due to medical conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, related dementias, and autism. This bill proposes the establishment of a statewide 5-year pilot program managed by the Department on Aging. The program will provide grants to counties and municipalities that are interested in creating local recovery programs designed to aid individuals who may wander off due to their conditions. A primary feature of the proposed program is the distribution of electronic bracelets that emit a continuous radio signal. These bracelets allow local law enforcement and volunteer search teams to identify and locate individuals who go missing.

Contention

A possible point of contention arises from the reliance on private donations for funding, which may raise concerns about the sustainability and consistency of financial support. Critics may argue that this model could lead to disparities in program availability across different regions, depending on the generosity and engagement of local communities. Another notable concern might be the effectiveness and practicality of the electronic bracelet system and how well it integrates with existing community emergency response frameworks.