Legislation to assist authorities searching for those with special needs is being put forward by Rhode Island lawmakers.
The measure before the House and Senate would create a “Purple Alert,” to help find missing individuals with intellectual disabilities.
The system would function in a similar fashion to the current Amber and Silver Alerts; it would be activated for missing adults with physical or neurological disabilities serious enough to warrant concern for their safety, and would be developed by the state Emergency Management Agency.
The bill comes in the aftermath of the disappearance of Linda DaLomba, a 45 year old non-verbal woman, who was found in Cranston, four days after disappearing.
Other states, including New York have implanted similar systems.