June 3, 2026
Mr. Alford (for himself and Mr. Smith of Missouri) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
To amend Kristen’s Act to provide for the inclusion of information related to developmental disabilities, alzheimer’s disease, and dementia, in alerts issued through the Ashanti Alert communications network, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Enhanced Alerts for Missing Loved Ones with Disabilities Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Alerts for missing adults with developmental disabilities, alzheimer’s disease, and dementia
Section 204(b) of Kristen's Act (34 U.S.C. 21904(b)) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1), by inserting after (including health care needs
the following: and whether the individual has a developmental disability (as such term is defined in section 102 of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15002), alzheimer’s disease, or dementia
; and
(2)
in paragraph (3), by striking suffers from a proven mental or physical disability
and inserting the following: has been diagnosed with a mental disability, a physical disability, a developmental disability, alzheimer’s disease, or dementia
.
Sec. 3. Training related to developmentally disabled missing persons
(a) Missing adults
Section 206 of Kristen's Act (34 U.S.C. 21906) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1), by striking and
at the end;
(2)
in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following:
(3)
training and educational programs related to responding effectively to a reported missing adult with a developmental disability.
(b) Missing children
Section 301(b) of the PROTECT Act (34 U.S.C. 20501(b)) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (3), by striking and
at the end;
(2)
in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following:
(5)
provide training and educational programs for use by States, territories of the United States, and tribal governments, related to responding effectively to a reported missing child with a developmental disability.