Delaware Passes "Gold Alert"

Following Colorado’s example, the Delaware legislature recently passed S.B. No. 227, establishing a "Gold Alert." It serves the same purpose as the "Amber Alert," expanding the scope to senior citizens, suicidal individuals, and those with disabilities. Governor Minner signed the provision into law on July 17th. Kudos to the Developmental Disabilities Council, which took the lead in advocating for the passage of this legislation.

The bill reads as follows: 
This bill creates a program for local, regional, and statewide notification of a missing senior citizen, missing suicidal person, or a missing person with a disability. The bill defines a missing senior citizen as a person who is over 60 years of age, whose domicile is in Delaware at the time that he or she is reported missing, whose whereabouts are unknown, and whose disappearance poses a credible threat to the health or safety of the person. The bill further defines a missing person with a disability as a person who has a disability, whose domicile is in Delaware at the time that he or she is reported missing, whose whereabouts are unknown, and whose disappearance poses a credible threat to the health or safety of the person. The bill further defines a missing suicidal person as a person whose disappearance is voluntary, whose whereabouts are unknown, whose domicile at the time that he or she is reported missing is Delaware, and whose actions, statements, or conduct indicate that he or she may cause or inflict harm upon himself or herself. The bill expands the communications network area to provide greater assistance to investigating law enforcement agencies in their searches for missing persons. This program is similar to the Amber Alert for abducted and missing children. For more information, please see: http://legis.delaware.gov/LIS/LIS144.nsf/vwLegislation/SB+227?Opendocument  ■