Montgomery, AL – The Alabama Legislature is close to setting up an emergency notification system for missing elderly people that is similar to the state's Amber Alert system for missing children.
The Senate voted 27-0 Thursday for a bill that provides for the state Department of Public Safety to work with the Alabama Broadcasters Association to put out an alert when a senior citizen is missing and is at risk of serious injury or death.
Republican Sen. Trip Pittman of Daphne says the alert will often be limited to a local area, rather than a statewide alert, because the missing elderly usually don't go far.
The bill, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Jeremy Oden of Vinemont, passed the House last month in a slightly different version. It must return to the House for a final vote.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)