New York Passes Law Establishing Alert For Missing Adults

New Law

NEW YORK Governor ANDREW CUOMO has sighed into law a bill that creates a new alert system to alert the public when adults with cognitive impairments go missing.  The alert (variously termed the "Silver Alert" or "Golden Alert"), similar to the "AMBER Alert" for children and to "Silver Alerts" in place in some other states, will allow activation in situations when adults with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or other cognitive impairments are lost.  The bill was sponsored by State Sen JOHN DEFRANCISCO (R-SYRACUSE) and Assemblyman WILLIAM MAGNERELLI, D-SYRACUSE).

"By creating this alert system we are protecting vulnerable adults who go missing from potential harm and helping families find and return their loved ones to safety," Governor CUOMO said. "Today NEW YORK joins a number of other states that have seen the value of this type of system in keeping safe cognitively impaired adults who wander away from home. I thank Senator DEFRANCISCO and Assemblyman MAGNARELLI for sponsoring this important legislation."

DEFRANCISCO said, "I thank Governor CUOMO for signing into law this vital legislation that will set into motion a tremendous public outreach effort whenever a vulnerable senior citizen goes missing. Several years ago a woman here in Syracuse with Alzheimer's left her home in the middle of the night and traveled all the way to CONNECTICUT, placing herself in harm's way. With a 'Golden Alert' system, NEW YORK will have new tools to protect vulnerable adults from the tragedies that can happen when they mistakenly leave home."

MAGNARELLI added, "For many years we have seen the success of the AMBER Alert system at locating missing children, and with today's signing NEW YORK will model this program to locate and return to their homes missing senior citizens with cognitive impairments. I thank Governor CUOMO for signing this bill into law, and it should give families across the state reassurance that NEW YORK is standing ready to help whenever a loved one should go missing."

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