HOUSE BILL NO. 1840 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE GALLICK.
4186H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT To amend chapter 650, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the establishment of an alert system for missing persons with developmental disabilities.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 650, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be 2 known as section 650.535, to read as follows: 650.535. 1. There is hereby created within the department of public safety a 2 statewide program called the "Purple Alert System" to aid in the identification and 3 location of missing persons with developmental disabilities whose disappearance poses a 4 credible threat of immediate danger or serious bodily harm to themselves through 5 immediate and effective community and emergency response. 6 2. For purposes of this section, "developmental disability" includes a mental or 7 cognitive disability that is not Alzheimer's disease or a dementia-related disorder; an 8 intellectual disability; a brain injury; or other physical, mental, or emotional disabilities 9 that are not related to substance abuse; or any combination of such conditions. 10 3. Before July 1, 2027, the department of public safety, in cooperation with the 11 state highway patrol, department of transportation, department of health and senior 12 services, the state lottery, and local law enforcement agencies shall: 13 (1) Develop a training program and alert system for missing persons who have 14 developmental disabilities that is compatible with existing alert systems in the state. The 15 training program shall implement crisis intervention team training to equip law 16 enforcement officers with the skills necessary to understand developmental disabilities, 17 to de-escalate interactions with persons in crisis, to facilitate appropriate interventions,
EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language. HB 1840 2
18 and to respond effectively to a reported missing person emergency when the person has 19 a developmental disability; 20 (2) Establish policies and procedures for responding to a reported missing 21 person emergency when the person has a developmental disability. The policies shall, at 22 a minimum, provide for the following: 23 (a) Immediate and widespread dissemination of critical information when a 24 person who has a developmental disability is reported missing; 25 (b) Enhancement of emergency response teams' competence by informing them 26 of the unique behaviors and needs of persons with developmental disabilities; and 27 (c) Measures to increase public awareness and understanding of the risks 28 associated with developmental disability-related elopement to foster community support 29 for persons with developmental disabilities; and 30 (3) Require a law enforcement agency to do the following, at a minimum, upon 31 receiving a report: 32 (a) Contact media outlets in the affected area or surrounding jurisdictions; 33 (b) Inform all on-duty law enforcement officers of the reported missing person 34 with a developmental disability; and 35 (c) Communicate the report to all other law enforcement agencies in the counties 36 surrounding the county in which the report is filed. 37 4. The department of public safety shall administer and promulgate rules for the 38 implementation of the alert system established under this section. Any rule or portion 39 of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority 40 delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to 41 all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and 42 chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly 43 pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul 44 a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority 45 and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2026, shall be invalid and void. ✔
Statutes affected: