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Rep. Jim Hackworth - House District 33
IMMEDIATE RELEASE August
6, 2009
Governor Bredesen Signs “Silver
Alert System” Legislation
(NASHVILLE, TN), August 6,
2009 – Governor Phil Bredesen signed legislation on Tuesday
creating a “Silver Alert System” that would work like the “Amber Alert
System” to help locate missing individuals who have Alzheimer’s disease
or related dementias. The bill, HB 346, is sponsored by Rep.
Jim Hackworth (D-Clinton) and Senators Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge)
and Ken Yager (R-Harriman). The new law calls for local law
enforcement agencies to coordinate with non-profit organizations such as
A Child is Missing or the Alzheimer’s Association to aid in their
efforts to put the program in place.
“The creation of the Silver
Alert System will provide us a tool for saving lives,” said
Representative Hackworth. “Like the Amber Alert System, created to
help find lost children, our senior citizens and their families can rest
better knowing they can now get help when a senior is missing. I
am proud to have been able to work with the TBI, my colleagues, and AARP
for creating and establishing this new system.”
“We already have much of
the framework through the Amber Alert Program to put a Silver Alert
Program in place,” said Senator McNally. “Like the national Amber
Alert program, this new law calls on local law enforcement agencies to
work in tandem with the media and transportation officials in alerting
the public of a missing senior.”
“There is a critical
24-hour time period in which to locate missing seniors,” added Senator
Yager. “The Silver Alert program is designed to quickly
disseminate descriptive information about the missing person, so that
citizens in the affected area can be on the lookout for the endangered
person and notify local law enforcement with any relevant information.”
The bill defines “missing
senior citizen” as a person 60 years old or older whose “whereabouts are
unknown” and who has “an impaired mental condition as determined by a
local law enforcement agency.” The Silver Alert would be triggered if
that missing person is believed to be in danger because of environmental
or weather conditions, or is thought to be unable to return to safety
without assistance.
Approximately 100,000
Tennesseans and as many as 5.2 million nationwide are living with
Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. The
Silver Alert system is working in eight states, and has resulted in the
safe return of a majority of those reported.
The Alzheimer’s Foundation
of America has reported that six in 10 of those with Alzheimer’s disease
will wander away and become disoriented. Half of those who wander are
found within five miles of their home. Of those not found within
24 hours, half will be seriously injured or die.
“This legislation brings a
community to their aid in such a crisis to take advantage of the short
window of time needed to bring these vulnerable citizens home to avert a
tragedy,” Senator McNally concluded.
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