Spectrum Alert Act

If it passed, this bill would:

• Create a chapter in Louisiana’s law called the “Spectrum Alert Act."  

• The Secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections will create and set up a notification system. This system will let people know when a child with autism is missing.  

• The notification system will let the community know to help law enforcement find the missing autistic child.  

  • Notification system: sends out alerts to people

  • Alerts: a message that lets people know something is happening

  • Law Enforcement: 

• The system will include steps to make sure that the child with autism is actually missing.  

• The system will let people know if the child needs to be found quickly because of the child’s age or  medication needs.  

• It will work with community and business partners to help give out information, like flyers, emails, and texts about the missing autism child.  

• The alert will end  once the child is found or when the notification period ends.

  • Notification period: a time period for the alert. 

• If a local law enforcement agency finds a missing child during an active alert, they must let the Department of Public Safety and Corrections know.

•  The Secretary will create rules to make this system work that follows the Administrative Procedure Act.

•  The Secretary will also create a training program for law enforcement officers.  

•  This training will help officers:

  •  Understand autism and other mental health disabilities  

  • Keep conversations calm with children who are in danger

  • Learn how to respond when reporting missing autistic 

•  Any state police officer, law enforcement member, broadcaster, cable operator, or person who shares or does not share information about a missing autistic child won't get in trouble.