MissouriMissouri would coordinate alerts for missing people with disabilities
Missouri would coordinate a Purple Alert system for certain missing people with developmental disabilities, while also adding communication-support and law-enforcement notification provisions.
What it does
A statewide Purple Alert System would help locate missing people with developmental disabilities when their disappearance creates an immediate danger or serious risk of harm.
A statewide program would connect agencies, businesses, and people with hearing-related disabilities to interpreters, captioning, training, and other communication support, subject to available funding.
Eligible residents could place a five-year communication warning on a vehicle record for law enforcement, but the system must be developed before the Department of Revenue can implement it.
Argument forFaster sharing of critical information and coordinated searches could help law enforcement and communities find endangered people with developmental disabilities sooner.
Argument againstRequiring broad, immediate reports to media and nearby agencies could increase privacy concerns for families and add response demands for local departments.
More detail
The Department of Public Safety would create and run a statewide Purple Alert System for certain missing people with developmental disabilities. The system would cover missing people with developmental disabilities whose disappearance presents a credible threat of immediate danger or serious bodily harm and who may be unable to return safely without help. Developmental disability would include intellectual disabilities, brain injuries, certain physical, mental, or emotional disabilities not related to substance abuse, and combinations of those conditions. For people age 60 or older, the definition would not include Alzheimer's disease or a dementia-related disorder. The Department of Public Safety and partner agencies would develop the alert system, training, and response policies before July 1, 2027.
The Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing would operate a statewide program to help agencies and businesses provide communication access services. The program would serve agencies, businesses, and people who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing, including through provider registries, training, consultations, and service assistance. Scholarships and financial help for communication access services would be subject to appropriations and program rules. The program would use a state fund containing appropriations and qualifying gifts, grants, donations, and bequests. The supplied text does not state a separate start or end date for this program.
The Department of Revenue would allow eligible Missouri residents to request a designation linked to a vehicle license plate and visible to law enforcement through MULES. A resident could apply for the resident's own condition or for a child, parent, or spouse whose condition may limit effective communication with law enforcement. A licensed physician or psychologist would have to certify a physical or mental health condition likely to impair communication and expected to last at least five years. The designation would require Department of Revenue approval and could be removed at the applicant's request. The Department of Revenue would implement the section only after a modernized vehicle and licensing system is developed and funded through the motor vehicle administration technology fund. Applications are authorized beginning January 1, 2027, but implementation would begin as soon as technologically possible after the required system is developed and maintained; each approved designation would remain active for five years unless removed earlier.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 13Delivered to Secretary of State (G)Latest
- Jul 13Approved by Governor Mike Kehoe (G)Became Law
- May 28Delivered to Governor
- May 28Signed by President Pro Tem (S)
- May 28Signed by House Speaker (H)
- May 14House Message (H)
- Vote recorded Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed - AYES: 137 NOES: 1 PRESENT: 0. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 8 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0. Result: pass.Lower
- May 14Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed - AYES: 137 NOES: 1 PRESENT: 0Major
- May 14House Adopts (H) - SS#2
- May 14Taken Up
- May 14Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 8 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0Minor
- May 14Voted Do Pass (H)Minor
- May 14Executive Session Completed (H)
- May 13Referred: Fiscal Review(H)Minor
- Vote recorded Third Read and Passed (S) - AYES: 29 NOES: 2 PRESENT: 0. Result: pass.Upper
- May 13Reported to the House with... (H) - SS#2
- May 13Third Read and Passed (S) - AYES: 29 NOES: 2 PRESENT: 0Passed Senate
- May 13Taken Up
- May 13Reported Do Pass (S)Minor
- May 13Voted Do Pass (S)Minor
- May 13Executive Session Held (S)
- May 12Referred: Fiscal Oversight(S)Minor
- May 12SS#2 Adopted (S)
- May 12SS#2 Offered (S)Minor
- May 12SS Withdrawn (S)Major
- May 12Taken Up
- May 7Placed on Informal Calendar - SS SCS pending
- May 7SS OfferedMinor
- May 7Taken Up for Third Reading (S)Minor
- May 7Placed on Informal Calendar
- Apr 16SCS Reported Do Pass (S)Minor
- Apr 13SCS Voted Do Pass (S)Minor
- Apr 13Executive Session Held (S)
- Apr 13Public Hearing Held (S)
- Apr 9Public Hearing Scheduled (S) - Monday, April 13, 2026, 2:00 p.m., SCR 1 - 1st Floor
- Apr 8Second read and referred: Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety(S)
- Mar 30Reported to the Senate and First Read (S)Minor
- Vote recorded Third Read and Passed (H) - AYES: 153 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Emergency Clause Adopted (H) - AYES: 143 NOES: 8 PRESENT: 0. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 30Emergency Clause Adopted (H) - AYES: 143 NOES: 8 PRESENT: 0
- Mar 30Third Read and Passed (H) - AYES: 153 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0Passed House
- Mar 30Taken Up for Third Reading (H)Minor
- Mar 30Placed on the Informal Third Reading Calendar (H)Minor
- Mar 25Perfected with Amendments (H) - HA 1, adopted
- Mar 25HCS Adopted (H)
- Mar 25Title of Bill - Agreed To
- Mar 25Taken Up for Perfection (H)
- Mar 23Placed on the Informal Perfection Calendar (H)
- Mar 10Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 10 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0Minor
- Vote recorded Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 10 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 10Voted Do Pass (H)Minor
- Mar 10Executive Session Completed (H)
- Mar 4Referred: Rules - Administrative(H)Minor
- Feb 24HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 12 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0Minor
- Vote recorded HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 12 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 24HCS Voted Do Pass (H)Minor
- Feb 24Executive Session Completed (H)
- Feb 17Public Hearing Completed (H)
- Jan 8Referred: Children and Families(H)Minor
- Jan 8Read Second Time (H)Minor
- Jan 7Read First Time (H)
- 2025
- Dec 1Prefiled (H)Introduced
Disability RightsPublic SafetyGovernment & Ethics