ATLANTA – Today, House Bill 465, the Autism Missing Person Alert System Act, sponsored by State Representative Carl Gilliard (D-Savannah), passed unanimously out of the House Human Relations and Aging Committee. Rep. Gilliard applauds the committee for their work in advancing his legislation to the House Rules Committee.
“Today, I am proud to see House Bill 465, the Autism Missing Person Alert System Act, pass unanimously out of the House Human Relations and Aging Committee,” said Rep. Gilliard. “This is a vital step forward in ensuring that individuals with autism spectrum disorder, who may be at increased risk of going missing, are given the attention and resources they deserve. I applaud the committee for their dedication to advancing this important legislation, and I look forward to seeing it continue its journey through the legislative process to better protect our most vulnerable citizens. I would also like to extend my thanks to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for their hard work and collaboration in helping to shape this legislation.”
HB 465 would add autism spectrum disorder to the list of eligible conditions to activate the Mattie’s Call state-wide alert system for missing disabled adults. Activation of the alert system for those with autism spectrum disorder would include guidance to local law enforcement to prioritize waterways and public roadways in their search and to disclose distinctive autism-related behaviors that can identify the missing person.
HB 465 now awaits consideration by the House Rules Committee.
The full text of HB 465 may be found here.
Representative Carl Gilliard represents the citizens of District 162, which includes a portion of Chatham County. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2016 and currently serves as Secretary of the Creative Arts & Entertainment. He also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Economic Development, Insurance, Natural Resources & Environment, Reapportionment and Redistricting and Transportation committees.
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