Lansing Sun

State Rep. Graham Filler is spearheading a plan to expand Michigan’s Amber Alert system to include missing children with special needs, a move aimed at providing life-saving resources for some of the state’s most vulnerable residents.

The tragic death of a young boy with special needs who disappeared in Clinton County last year highlights the need to expand the system, which is currently only used to alert the public when a child abduction is suspected.

“Michigan’s current Amber Alert system is too limited in scope,” said Rep. Filler. “We need to ensure that when a child with special needs goes missing, we can immediately mobilize all resources necessary to help find them. This measure is about saving lives and giving families hope when every second counts.”

House Bill 5919 broadens the criteria for issuing an Amber Alert to include missing children with special needs, regardless of whether there is evidence of an abduction. This expansion recognizes that children with special needs, particularly those who are non-verbal or have other communication challenges, face unique dangers when they go missing.

“These are our most vulnerable children — kids who may not be able to call for help or understand the dangers around them,” Filler said. “We need to act quickly, and this bill will ensure that first responders have the tools they need to respond effectively.”