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Committee advances bill creating statewide missing-child alert for cases that don't meet AMBER criteria
Summary
Senate Bill 371 would create a standardized, statewide missing-child alert system for children under 18 who are believed to be in potential danger but do not meet AMBER Alert criteria; the committee passed the bill as amended after sponsor and a parent of a child with developmental disabilities spoke in support.
Representative Keith Brooks presented Senate Bill 371, sponsored in the Senate by Senator Jamie Scott, which would establish a statewide missing-child alert for cases that do not meet the strict criteria required for an AMBER Alert.
"This establishes a standardized missing child alert system for cases that don't meet the strict criteria for Amber Alerts," Representative Keith Brooks said. He told the committee the bill is modeled on approaches used in other states and would expand notification tools — law enforcement, media, and digital signage — for missing juveniles under age 18 whose whereabouts are unknown and who are believed to be in potential danger even if abduction is not suspected.
Michael Lindsey, who testified in support as the parent of a young child with developmental disabilities, described situations in which a child with limited communication could not provide identifying details and urged passage. "Our child has a very limited vocabulary ... Senate Bill 371 would establish a standardized system to help bring home these endangered children," Lindsey said.
Sponsor and supporters emphasized the bill would coordinate with the Arkansas State Police, the Office of Emergency Management, schools and child-welfare agencies and use the existing alert infrastructure similar to Silver or Purple Alerts.
The committee adopted an amendment adding cosponsors and voted "do pass as amended." The measure passed on a voice vote.
Why it matters: Supporters said the AMBER Alert criteria are intentionally narrow and leave a gap for missing juveniles who may be endangered but not meet abduction proof standards. The proposed alert system aims to speed public notification and resource mobilization in those circumstances.
What remains unclear: Committee testimony did not include detailed operational protocols or technology costs; sponsors said the alerts would use existing statewide notification channels through law enforcement and media partners.
