FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Diana Glick
October 9, 2013 (916) 319-2016
Governor Signs Measure to Safeguard Missing Individuals
(Sacramento, CA) – Today Governor Brown signed Assemblymember Buchanan’s AB 620, a bill to protect vulnerable members of our communities. This bill requires certain care facilities serving adults with developmental disabilities and the elderly to develop plans to notify family members and law enforcement when an individual under their care goes missing.
According to Assemblymember Buchanan, “This bill was a high priority for me. It was brought to me by a constituent, Denise Lester, after her developmentally disabled daughter was missing for over seven hours from a care facility, and subsequently required three days hospitalization. Another case in our county had a tragic ending when an Alzheimer’s patient was found dead after wandering from her care facility. We were surprised to learn that current law has no requirement for a facility to notify family or law enforcement.”
Constituent, Denise Lester, who was present when the Governor signed this important measure, adds “the night my daughter went missing, I learned that common sense was not common at all. I appreciate the work of Assemblymember Buchanan and her staff and applaud the Governor signing AB 620. The bill will protect disabled adults and give family members peace of mind knowing that proper procedures are in place should their loved one go missing.”
AB 620 passed out of the Legislature with strong bi-partisan support and was supported by AARP, Alzheimer’s Association, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, The Arc & United Cerebral Palsy California Collaboration and many other organizations and individuals.
Assemblymember Joan Buchanan, elected to the State Assembly in November 2008, represents the 16th Assembly District, which includes portions of Alameda and Contra Costa counties and the communities of Alamo, Danville, Dublin, Lafayette, Livermore, Moraga, Orinda, Pleasanton, San Ramon, and Walnut Creek.
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Capitol Office: State Capitol, P.O. Box 942849 • Sacramento, CA 94249-0016 • (916) 319-2016 • Fax: (916) 319-2116
16th Assembly District Web Site: www.assembly.ca.gov/buchanan<http://www.assembly.ca.gov/buchanan>