Bill calls for Amber Alert plans for kids with special needs

KENTWOOD, Mich. (WOOD) — A state lawmaker wants to expand Michigan’s Amber Alert system.

For the Michigan State Police to issue an Amber Alert, certain criteria must be met. The first is that authorities must think that a child under 18 has been abducted and is in imminent danger of serious harm or death. The second is that enough information has to be available to give to the public that could assist with the safe recovery of the child, or arrest the suspect.

State Representative Graham Filler, R-Saint Johns, said the current system is “too limited in scope” and he wants children with special needs who go missing to qualify as well.

Filler introduced House Bill 5919 , which would make that change happen.

The legislation doesn’t define “special needs,” but Filler wrote that the death of Jermain Jones shows the need for it. Jermain was a 2-year-old boy with autism who went missing in Clinton County last October before his body was found in a river. No foul play was suspected.

“I think it’s important that we come up with solutions to the problem,” said Maggie Moore, executive director of Hope Network Center for Autism in Kentwood.

Moore said children with autism can tend to elope.

“It’s not uncommon for them to either wander away or run out of their house, or run to something that they find enjoyable,” Moore said.

When it comes to finding them, time is of the essence.

“I think every moment counts, I mean it only takes a second for a kid to get hurt,” Moore said. “Especially with somebody who may have challenges with communicating or knowing where they’re at or being able to find home.”

At the Center for Autism, Moore said they work with parents on solutions to keep their child safe.

“Whether it be that parents put alarms on their doors or put extra locks on their doors to try to keep their kids in when they’re not able to attend to them,” Moore said. “Often times kids will wander to something they enjoy and water is something a lot of kids enjoy. So, many of our families we do encourage them to get swim lessons for their kids.”

As a mother with a child with different needs, Moore said having resources to help find missing children as soon as possible is important.

“I think for all parents, they want their child found quickly,” Moore said.

According to online records, House Bill 5919 has been referred to a committee.

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