Bill > SB211

This bill establishes the Autism Missing Person Alert System in Georgia, creating a state-wide protocol for locating missing individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The new system requires the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to develop an alert mechanism in cooperation with various state agencies, including the Governor's office, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, and local law enforcement. The alert system can be activated when a local law enforcement agency confirms a missing person with ASD is in immediate danger, has investigated the disappearance, and has sufficient information to aid in locating the individual. The alert will provide specific guidance, such as prioritizing searches of waterways, describing the missing person's distinctive behaviors, and offering a last known location. The system involves multiple participants, including state agencies and the Georgia Lottery Corporation, who are required to help disseminate information rapidly. Importantly, participants in the alert system are granted immunity from civil damages arising from alert dissemination. The bill defines autism spectrum disorder as a developmental disorder characterized by social interaction difficulties, communication challenges, and repetitive behavior patterns, and emphasizes a comprehensive, coordinated approach to locating missing individuals with ASD.

Justice

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70527