Developmental Disabilities Alert

On February 16, 2007 the Governor signed HB 07-1005: Missing Senior Citizen and Persons with Developmental Disabilities Alert Program

The bill amended the Senior Alert and further defines a missing person with developmental disabilities and the steps taken to verify this status.

Criteria

Criteria must be met to activate a Developmental Disabilities Alert:

1. An investigating officer who has reason to believe a missing person meets the definition of "verified developmental disabilities" MAY REQUEST a "Missing Person with Developmental Disabilities Alert".
2. Verify the information meets the definition of "Missing Person with Developmental Disabilities":
   • He or she went missing while in Colorado;
   • Verification from the law enforcement agency that the missing person has a developmental disability:
     • Signed statement from a family member, close friend, caregiver, doctor or medical facility that verifies the missing person has a disability(ies) that is manifested before the person reaches twenty-two years of age, which constitutes a substantial disability to the affected individual, and is attributable to mental retardation or related conditions which include:
       • cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, or other neurological conditions when such conditions result in impairment of general intellectual functioning or adaptive behavior similar to that of a person with mental retardation. The federal definition of "developmental disability" found in 42 U.S.C. sec. 15001 et seq. shall not apply.
   • Their disappearance poses a credible threat to the safety and health of the person;

The investigating agency needs to enter the missing person into the Colorado Crime Information Center (CCIC) and the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database as a missing endangered person.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation will forward the information on to participating radio stations, television stations and other media outlets in Colorado. If there is a plate number associated with a vehicle, the Department of Transportation Traffic Operation Center may post the plate number on the Variable Message Signs (VMS) on Colorado highways.