STATE HOUSE — The House today voted to approve legislation sponsored by Rep. Tina L. Spears (D-Dist. 36, Charlestown, New Shoreham, South Kingstown, Westerly) and drafted in collaboration with Rep. Christopher G. Paplauskas (R-Dist. 15, Cranston) to establish a “PURPLE alert” system to help quickly find missing adults with serious disabilities whose health and safety is at risk.
“As recent events have shown, this is a missing piece in our statewide system of care for the health and safety of adults with disabilities,” said Representative Spears, who serves as the executive director of the Community Provider Network of Rhode Island, which represents providers who support people with disabilities. “This legislation brings together law enforcement, disability advocates, media outlets and state agencies in a collaborative effort to build a system that works similarly to the alert programs that we already have to get out the word to our communities about a missing person whose disability and the circumstances of their disappearance place them in danger.”
In March, a nonverbal autistic woman went missing for several days in Cranston before being found alive in the back of a parked vehicle.
“Implementing the PURPLE Alert system represents a pivotal advancement and closes a gap in safeguarding Rhode Island’s most vulnerable citizens," said Representative Paplauskas. "By leveraging the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) and fostering seamless coordination among law enforcement, emergency management and community stakeholders, this legislation ensures rapid dissemination of critical information. This strategic integration not only enhances our capacity to locate missing individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities but also underscores our commitment to their safety and well-being across every community in our state.”
The bill (2025-H 6165A) would establish an alert system similar to existing silver and amber alerts to help locate a missing adult with a physical or neurological disability serious enough to warrant concern for their immediate safety and wellbeing. The disappearance would have to pose a credible threat to the immediate safety and health of the missing person in order to trigger the alert protocol.
To establish that the missing individual’s conditions were serious enough to warrant the alert, law enforcement would first review appropriate documentation from the missing person’s family, legal guardian or long-term care facility.
The Division of State Police, in collaboration with the Department of Health, cooperating media outlets, the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) and other appropriate agencies would develop the policies and procedures of the “PURPLE alert” system, within the framework provided by the bill and IPAWS.
“An alert catches people’s attention and prompts action. It gives urgency to a situation and when the community reacts quicker and takes the missing person alert seriously more people will be found sooner,” said Joanne G. Quinn, executive director of the Autism Project. “It’s also critical to pair the alert with training of public safety personnel on how to engage best with members of the autistic community and other people with disabilities so they may answer the call out and not fear the people working to help them.”
The bill would also require RIEMA to annually review the policies and procedures of the “PURPLE alert” system and provide annual trainings to all participating agencies. This training would be mandatory for all personnel involved in conducting “PURPLE alert” operations.
The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration, where Sen. Todd M. Patalano (D-Dist. 26, Cranston) has introduced similar legislation (2025-S 0983).
For more information, contact:
Tristan Grau, Publicist
State House Room B20
Providence, RI 02903
401.222.4935
|