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119-s-4670119th Congress

Enhanced Alerts for Missing Loved Ones with Disabilities Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Schmitt, Eric [R-MO]

Introduced

Summary

Expand missing-person alerts and training to explicitly include people with developmental disabilities, Alzheimer’s, and dementia. This bill would amend Kristen’s Act and the PROTECT Act to add these conditions to Ashanti Alert criteria and to require training for responders handling missing adults and children with developmental disabilities.

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  • Families and caregivers would see alerts that explicitly note if a missing person has a developmental disability, Alzheimer’s disease, or dementia, making public notices more specific and easier to act on.
  • Eligibility for Ashanti Alerts would hinge on a diagnosis of a mental, physical, or developmental disability, Alzheimer’s, or dementia rather than a generic claim of disability, changing who can qualify for an alert.
  • State, territorial, and Tribal responders would get mandated training and educational programs on responding to missing children and adults with developmental disabilities, using the definition in the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15002).

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Alerts include disability diagnoses

If enacted, this bill would let law enforcement base an Ashanti Alert on a diagnosed condition. It would replace the phrase "suffers from a proven mental or physical disability" with a diagnosis-based standard listing mental, physical, developmental disability (as defined in 42 U.S.C. 15002), Alzheimer’s disease, or dementia. The alert format would also include a clear indication whether the missing person has a developmental disability, Alzheimer’s disease, or dementia (added after the existing "including health care needs" note). These changes would take effect upon enactment and mainly affect how alerts are issued and what information families see.

Training on missing people with disabilities

If enacted, this bill would require new training programs on responding to missing people with developmental disabilities. It would add training for responders to missing adults under Kristen's Act and add training materials for States, territories, and Tribal governments to use for missing children under the PROTECT Act. Trainings would reference the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act definition (42 U.S.C. 15002). These changes would take effect upon enactment and aim to improve how responders help missing persons and their families.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Schmitt, Eric [R-MO]

MO • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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