State Rep. Gina Johnsen’s proposal to establish a Silver Alert system for missing seniors and vulnerable adults has been approved by the Michigan House of Representatives.
House Bill 4362 would require the Michigan State Police to use existing federal technology to implement a mobile alert system. This system would allow law enforcement agencies to send alerts directly to mobile phones when a senior or vulnerable adult is reported missing, in a manner similar to Amber Alerts.
“Getting answers fast is absolutely critical in these tragic instances,” said Johnsen, R-Portland. “This bill ensures information gets out fast and directly to the public, where it can make the most difference.”
Currently, police can use wireless emergency alerts to notify broadcasters and newspapers but cannot reach the public directly. The proposed legislation removes this restriction and expands notifications so they reach more people, as with Amber Alerts. The plan does not call for creating new departments or commissions or for allocating additional state funding.
“This is a commonsense, life-saving measure,” Johnsen said. “It protects our most vulnerable residents, respects local law enforcement, and uses existing resources to better serve Michigan families.”
The bill received broad bipartisan support in the House and has backing from groups such as the State Employees Retirees Association, the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan, and the Friendship Centers of Emmet County.
The legislation will now move on to the Senate for further review.
