Res. No. 18
Resolution calling upon the United States Senate to pass S.557, "The National Silver Alert Act," which would encourage and integrate law enforcement communication systems through the United States to help identify and locate missing seniors with cognitive impairments.
By Council Members Dickens, Fidler, Gentile, James, Lappin, Chin and Vacca
Whereas, S.557, would establish a National Silver Alert communications network within the Department of Justice (DOJ) to assist regional and local search efforts for missing seniors; and
Whereas, The National Silver Alert Act would assign a DOJ officer to serve as the Silver Alert Coordinator to coordinate the network with states; and
Whereas, S.557 would award grants to states for support of Silver Alert plans and the network; and
Whereas, The National Silver Alert Act would define a "missing senior" as any individual who is reported as missing to or by a law enforcement agency and who meets state requirements for designation as a missing senior; and
Whereas, S.557 would authorize the U.S. Attorney General to award grants to states and local governments to provide voluntary electronic monitoring services to elderly individuals; and
Whereas, The National Silver Alert Act would reauthorize Kristen's Act, which would direct the Attorney General to make competitive grants to public agencies and/or nonprofit private organizations to maintain a national resource center and database for tracking missing adults; and
Whereas, In addition, the National Silver Alert Act provides assistance to law enforcement agencies, families, and victim advocates in locating and recovering missing adults; and
Whereas, According to the Alzheimer's Association, there are 5.3 million people nationwide living with Alzheimer's, a majority of whom are age 65 and older; and
Whereas, The Alzheimer's Association estimates that there are 250,000 people in New York City living with Alzheimer's and more than 60 percent of individuals diagnosed with the disease will wander or become lost during the course of the disease; and
Whereas, The United States House of Representatives passed the National Silver Alert Act on February 10, 2009; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the United States Senate to pass S.557, "The National Silver Alert Act," which would encourage and integrate law enforcement communication systems through the United States to help identify and locate missing seniors with cognitive impairments.
CC/SO
LS # 7904
11/25/09
11:47AM