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Committee advances ‘purple alert’ bill to help find missing people with cognitive disabilities
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Summary
The committee unanimously recommended first substitute SB 128 to the full Senate. The bill would create a regional-style "purple alert" notification system for missing people with cognitive disabilities; DPS helped shape the substitute and law enforcement and family witnesses supported it.
A Senate committee on Tuesday voted to forward a first substitute to Senate Bill 128, which would create a coordinated notification system—described by the sponsor as a "purple alert"—to help find missing people with certain cognitive disabilities.
The sponsor said the first substitute incorporated language suggested by the Department of Public Safety after stakeholder conversations and that the goal was to create a regional alert, akin to a silver alert, to rally local responders and community members. "We looked at other states ... Other states have purple alert, notification systems," the sponsor said, adding the Utah version seeks to be "thoughtful" about alarm fatigue and regional coordination.
Public safety officials and family members testified in support. Brandon Christiansen, deputy chief of the Salt Lake City Police Department, said law enforcement "fully support[s] this" because it fills a current gap. A parent who helped in a local search described how minutes matter when someone with autism is missing and said the alert would provide tools for police to communicate how to approach and assist vulnerable individuals.
Senator Quan moved to pass the first substitute favorably to the full Senate; the motion carried unanimously. The sponsor said the committee may set a time-certain floor presentation and invited members of the Taiwanese community and other stakeholders to participate in future floor activities related to other items.
The bill now advances to the full Senate for further consideration.
