HB465: HB465 Autism Missing Person Alert System Act; enact

Georgia's 'Mattie's Call' alert system currently helps locate missing disabled adults and medically endangered people, but it does not specifically cover people with autism spectrum disorder. This bill rewrites Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated to add people with autism spectrum disorder to every part of the alert system, from activation criteria to termination rules. The bill defines autism spectrum disorder as a developmental disorder marked by social interaction difficulties, communication challenges, and repetitive behaviors. It requires that whenever the alert is activated for a missing person with autism, local law enforcement must prioritize searching waterways such as lakes, rivers, pools, and ditches, and must also advise the public to check roadways, describe the person clearly, give a last known location, and share information about autism-related behaviors that could help identify them. It also requires personal care home and assisted living staff to call police within 30 minutes of learning such a person is missing. The bill repeals conflicting laws.

• Adds people with autism spectrum disorder as a covered category throughout the 'Mattie's Call' alert system alongside disabled adults and medically endangered persons.
• Defines autism spectrum disorder in law as a developmental disorder involving social, communication, and behavioral challenges.
• Requires searches for a missing person with autism spectrum disorder to prioritize waterways like lakes, rivers, pools, and ditches.
• Requires alerts for missing persons with autism to include a description, last known location, and relevant behavioral information to aid identification.
• Requires personal care home and assisted living staff to notify police within 30 minutes of learning a resident with autism, a disability, or a medical condition is missing.

People with autism spectrum disorder and their families, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and its director, local law enforcement agencies, personal care home and assisted living facility staff, the Georgia Lottery Corporation and its retail vendors, and media and other entities that help broadcast alerts.

Families of missing people with autism spectrum disorder would gain access to the same statewide alert tools already used for missing disabled adults, with search guidance tailored to autism, such as checking waterways first, which could speed up search efforts and give the public more useful identifying information.

• Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 35-3-171 to define 'autism spectrum disorder' and add it to the definition of who the alert system covers.
• O.C.G.A. § 35-3-172 directs the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to develop and implement the alert system for persons with autism spectrum disorder, alongside disabled adults and medically endangered persons.
• O.C.G.A. § 35-3-174 requires personal care home and assisted living staff to call local police within 30 minutes of learning a covered person, including someone with autism, is missing.
• O.C.G.A. § 35-3-176 sets the criteria for activating the alert, including law enforcement's belief the person is missing and in danger, and confirmation through investigation.
• O.C.G.A. § 35-3-178(c) requires that any activation for a missing person with autism spectrum disorder prioritize waterway searches, advise checking roadways, and share descriptive and behavioral information.
• O.C.G.A. § 35-3-179 allows the director to terminate an alert once the person is found or the alert is no longer useful.
• O.C.G.A. § 35-3-180 protects entities and individuals participating in the alert system from civil liability for disseminating alerts.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-03-06Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2025-03-04House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
3. 2025-03-04House Third Readers (House)
4. 2025-02-28House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
5. 2025-02-19House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
6. 2025-02-19House Second Readers (House)
7. 2025-02-18House First Readers (House)
8. 2025-02-13House Hopper (House)

• Carl Gilliard (D, HD-162)Primary sponsor
• Bill Hitchens (R, HD-161)
• Yasmin Neal (D, HD-079)
• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)
• Dexter Sharper (D, HD-177)
• Long Tran (D, HD-080)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 4, 2025

   172 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 3 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #157

• autism spectrum disorder
• missing persons alerts
• Mattie's Call
• public safety
• disability services