SESSION OF 2024
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON SENATE BILL NO. 371
As Amended by Senate Committee on Public
Health and Welfare

Brief*
SB 371, as amended, would expand current provisions
to permit the issuance of a silver alert for a missing person
who is 18 years of age or older and has an intellectual
disability (ID) and in other specific circumstances.
[Note: Current law allows the issuance of a public notice
of a missing elderly person under the Kansas Silver Alert
Plan.]

Issuing a Silver Alert
The bill would establish that a public notice of a missing
person under the Kansas Silver Alert Plan could be issued for
a person 18 years or older and the following criteria are met:
● Has been diagnosed with an ID;
● Whose whereabouts are unknown;
● Is believed to be in imminent danger of serious
bodily injury or death because of the ID; and
● Is believed to be unable to return to safety without
assistance.

____________________
*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
http://www.kslegislature.org
Background
The bill was introduced by the Senate Committee on
Federal and State Affairs at the request of Senator Holscher.

Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare
In the Senate Committee hearing, proponent testimony
was provided by representatives of InterHab, the Kansas
Council on Developmental Disabilities, and the Autism
Society of America. The proponents stated generally the bill
would allow missing persons reports of adults with ID to reach
a wider audience, could lead to faster location of the
individuals when they wander, and reduce the risk of harm.
Written-only proponent testimony was provided by a
private citizen.
Neutral testimony was provided by a representative of
the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police, the Kansas Peace
Officers Association, and the Kansas Sheriffs Association.
Opponent testimony was provided by a representative
of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, who stated generally
the definition would be difficult for organizations to provide a
timely broadcast for an individual.
The Senate Committee amended the bill to clarify when
a silver alert for a person 18 years of age or older with an ID
would be issued.

Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, as introduced, the Office of the
Attorney General, Kansas Highway Patrol, Kansas
Department for Aging and Disability Services, and Kansas

2- 371
Bureau of Investigation indicate the bill would have no fiscal
effect on the agencies.
The League of Kansas Municipalities indicates
enactment of the bill would have a fiscal impact on cities, as
law enforcement agencies would experience increased costs
associated with enforcement and training.
The Kansas Association of Counties indicates
enactment of the bill would have no impact on expenditures
unless there was a significant increase in missing adults with
intellectual disabilities.
Kansas Silver Alert Plan; missing person; intellectual disability


3- 371


Statutes affected:
As introduced: 75-754
As Amended by Senate Committee: 75-754