New Alert Systems Proposed for Missing Children in Louisiana!

Lawmakers propose new Missing Child Alert Systems in Louisiana

Two bills before the Louisiana Legislature would make changes to how missing child alerts are issued statewide following a high-profile case involving a New Orleans boy.

House Bill 74, authored by Michael Echols, proposes the creation of a “Spectrum Alert” system that would be issued to the public when a child with autism goes missing. The bill would direct the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections to develop the alert system establish its requirements and provide training for law enforcement officers on responding to these alerts.

According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children 481 children on the autism spectrum were reported missing to the organization in 2024 with 74 percent found within a week. The organization has cited drowning deaths as a major concern for children with autism who wander away from home.

A second proposal, Senate Bill 34, authored by Patrick McMath, would establish criteria for issuing AMBER Alerts which are used in urgent child abduction cases. Under current guidelines outlined by the Louisiana State Police AMBER Alerts must be requested by a law enforcement agency apply only to abduction cases involving children age 17 or younger indicate the child is in danger of serious bodily harm or death and include sufficient descriptive information about the child suspect or suspect’s vehicle.

Required information including the Child Abduction (CA) flag must also be entered into the National Crime Information Center system before an alert can be issued. Alerts may be canceled by the AMBER Alert Coordinator at the direction of the requesting agency.

Senate Bill 34 would also require state police to offer training to local law enforcement agencies on responding to reports of missing children individuals with developmental disabilities and senior citizens. In addition the bill proposes shifting final authority over the type of alert issued from local law enforcement agencies to the Louisiana State Police.

If approved Senate Bill 34 would be known as “Bryan’s Call” named for Bryan Vasquez a 12-year-old New Orleans boy with autism whose body was found in a canal after he went missing in August 2025. Authorities had issued a Level II Endangered and Missing Child alert in that case.

Both measures remain under legislative consideration and would change current alert procedures if passed.