Senate committee revives 'Project LEO' to help locate missing people with special needs

The Senate Committee on Higher Education Appropriations on Thursday advanced legislation to restore Project LEO, a statewide framework to help locate missing people with special needs.

Sen. Gates, the bill sponsor, told the committee SB 1570 revives a program created in 2016 that previously operated through the Centers for Autism and Related Disabilities and expired under a sunset provision. He said the bill would allow participating CARE centers to partner with local sheriffs to distribute voluntary tracking devices prioritized by risk and local need.

"This is about restoring a proven limited tool to help families and first responders act quickly when an autistic or other special needs person wanders unsafely and when seconds matter," Sen. Gates said. He clarified the device is a wearable wristband, not an ankle monitor: "It's a wristwatch band, not an ankle bracelet."

The bill includes nonrecurring funding to restart the program, making the legislation contingent on appropriation. Committee members offered no questions and expressed support for its return; Chair Harrell moved directly to a roll call and announced SB 1570 will be reported favorably out of committee.

If enacted as written, the revived Project LEO would restore a voluntary, law-enforcement-linked tool to help locate individuals at high risk of elopement. The committee did not debate implementation specifics such as device cost, data-retention policies, enrollment procedures, or privacy safeguards during the hearing.

The measure's next step is consideration by the full Senate and, if funded, implementation by participating centers and local law enforcement in coordination with the Centers for Autism and Related Disabilities and county sheriffs' offices.