Expanding the Kansas silver alert plan to provide public notice of missing persons 18 years of age or older who have an intellectual disability.
Impact
If enacted, SB556 would modify the current protocols surrounding the issuance of silver alerts, allowing for alerts to be issued in the case of adults with intellectual disabilities, which historically may have been overlooked. This amendment to the existing alert system reflects an acknowledgment of the specific risks that individuals with intellectual disabilities may face when they go missing, recognizing the need for a tailored approach that addresses their unique vulnerabilities. Local law enforcement agencies will be required to adopt these expanded criteria in order to better serve and protect this population.
Summary
SB556 focuses on expanding the existing Kansas silver alert plan, which is aimed at providing public notice when individuals who are 18 years of age or older and have an intellectual disability go missing. The bill seeks to enhance community awareness and response in such situations, which can often be critical in ensuring the safe return of vulnerable populations. By broadening the parameters of the silver alert system, this bill intends to address the unique needs of adults with intellectual disabilities in terms of public awareness efforts when they are reported missing.
Contention
While the bill aims to enhance protections for a vulnerable group, there may be questions regarding the implementation, such as the criteria for what constitutes a significant risk and how law enforcement will manage the notification process. Critics might highlight concerns about the potential strain on local resources and the challenges in accurately identifying cases that qualify for an alert. Additionally, there could be debates surrounding the inclusivity and accuracy of the definition of 'intellectual disability' within the context of the bill, which might necessitate further clarification or debate among stakeholders.
Establishing the Kansas purple alert plan to provide public notice of missing persons 18 years of age or older who have been diagnosed with an intellectual disability and are in certain dangerous circumstances.
Concerning Missing Persons Alerts; To Codify The Arkansas Amber Alert System; To Codify The Arkansas Silver Alert System; And To Create The Missing Endangered Adult Advisory System.
House Substitute for SB 287 by Committee on Health and Human Services - Prohibiting a healthcare provider from administering medication, diagnostic tests or conducting ongoing behavioral health treatments to a minor in a school facility without parental consent, enacting the no patient left alone act to require medical care facilities to allow in-person visitation in certain circumstances, expanding licensure of rural emergency hospitals that meet criteria between January 2015 and December 2020 and authorizing emergency medical responders to distribute non prescription over-the-counter medications.