Purple Alert Program would notify public of missing individuals with special needs

MARYLAND – Maryland lawmakers are pushing legislation supporting some of the state’s most vulnerable people during a time of crisis.

Senate Bill 817 was inspired the by story of a 31-year-old Maryland man by the name of Rayshawn. He has special needs and is also nonverbal. Last year, he went missing for a total of six days.

Senate Bill 817 would establish a Purple Alert Program, which would help assist in locating a missing person who suffers from an intellectual or developmental disability.  “Maryland State Police would administer the program. If someone goes missing, they be able to put it on the billboards you see that light up on the highway with missing person information,” Senator Ellis said.

Bill Sponsor Senator Authur Ellis said this addresses a whole in the state’s current alert system. Those under 18 years old who go missing have the Amber Alert, while those 60 years of age or older have the silver alert. The Purple Alert Program would cover individuals between that 18-60 age range with cognitive disabilities. “The love is there for these individuals no matter what age with cognitive disabilities. Their parents’ jobs are to take care of them, and this will help,” Senator Ellis said.

Senator Ellis told us there’s currently there’s no opposition to the bill.

That bill currently sits in the Senate Judicial Proceedings committee where it awaits consideration.