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Committee considers 'Rowan Act' to expand AMBER Alert criteria to include custodial and special‑needs cases
Summary
The Michigan House Families and Veterans Committee heard testimony on House Bills 4517 and 4518, known as the Rowan Act, which would let the Michigan State Police activate AMBER Alerts when they believe a child is in danger even if current abduction criteria are not met, and would explicitly include custodial disputes and children with disabilities.
The Michigan House Families and Veterans Committee heard testimony on House Bills 4517 and 4518, a package nicknamed the Rowan Act that would authorize the Michigan State Police to issue AMBER Alerts when officers determine a child is in danger, even if the situation arises from a custodial dispute or does not meet the current statutory abduction criteria.
Representative Neier, who introduced the package with Representative Regas, said the bills were prompted by a local case in which lawmakers say a narrow interpretation of the AMBER Alert law delayed alerts after a court‑ordered custody exchange and contributed to the death of a 6‑year‑old named Rowan. Representative Regas described the changes as giving law enforcement flexibility to respond swiftly to complex missing‑child situations,…
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