HB427 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Laura HallRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Missing persons, persons with Alzheimer's or dementia eligible for Senior Citizen's Alert regardless of age, law enforcement personnel required to undergo training in searching for dementia patients, Secs. 26-19A-2, 26-19A-4 am'd.

Summary

HB 427 expands the Missing Senior Citizen Alert to include people with Alzheimer's disease or dementia regardless of age and requires specialized training for responders.

What This Bill Does

It allows the missing alert to be issued for anyone with Alzheimer's disease or dementia, regardless of age, and establishes guidelines for issuing the alert. A caregiver's statement can count as proof of the disease for the alert. Reports can be filed as soon as someone believes the person is missing, and searches can begin immediately with the possibility of expanding beyond the local area. It also requires law enforcement officers, 911 operators, and other emergency personnel to receive specialized training for searching missing persons with Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

Who It Affects

• Persons with Alzheimer's disease or dementia who go missing (regardless of age) and their caregivers/reporting parties.
• Law enforcement officers, 911 operators, and other emergency personnel who must complete specialized training and participate in missing person searches.

Key Provisions

• Amends sections 26-19A-2 and 26-19A-4 to expand the Missing Senior Citizen Alert to include missing persons with Alzheimer's disease or dementia regardless of age and to add issuance guidelines.
• Activating the alert: it may be issued when the person is at risk of bodily harm or death or suffers from Alzheimer's/dementia; for Alzheimer’s/dementia, a caregiver’s statement is sufficient proof.
• Issuance and search process: allows immediate reporting and start of a search, with the department able to expand the search beyond the local area as needed.
• Training requirement: requires law enforcement officers, 911 operators, and other emergency personnel to complete training in techniques for searching for a missing person with Alzheimer's disease or dementia, and to use trained personnel in searches.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Missing Persons