"The first of eight bills before me today is Introductory Number 270-A, sponsored by Council Members Lappin, Arroyo, Barron, Brewer, Chin, Comrie, Dickens, Fidler, Gennaro, Gonzalez, Koppell, Koslowitz, Palma, Recchia, Reyna, Seabrook, Vann, Williams, Rose, Mark-Viverito, Nelson, Van Bramer, Rivera, Weprin, Garodnick, Dilan, Lander, Jackson, Rodriguez, Greenfield, Sanders and Ulrich.  Introductory Number 270-A establishes a Silver Alert notification system to help identify and locate seniors with certain cognitive impairments who go missing and may be in danger.

"250,000 New Yorkers suffer from Alzheimer's disease or other dementias. People with dementia often do not have the ability to make sound decisions, are not always aware of where they are, and sometimes cannot speak coherently or understand what is being said.  If these already vulnerable seniors become lost or wander away from their homes, they are particularly at risk of either never being found or found seriously injured or deceased.

"With the enactment of Introductory Number 270-A, the Police Department will develop and implement a protocol for sharing information about vulnerable seniors who have been reported missing and who may be in imminent danger in order to aid in their return.  The information that will be sent will include a person's name, age, brief description, and the area where they were last seen or the description of the car they may have been driving.  Public notifications will be sent through various media and notification outlets - including television, radio, and NotifyNYC - as well as to hospitals, senior centers, and other residential institutions as often as needed, in the hopes that they will assist in the recovery of the missing person. 

"This Silver Alert system is a step towards helping older New Yorkers remain safe as they age.  Even with the best care, wandering remains a serious risk for those suffering from dementia.  The Silver Alert system provides caregivers with a quick response by the community and law enforcement personnel to help identify, locate, and safely return someone who has wandered away from their home.

"I would like to thank Department for the Aging Commissioner Lilliam Barrios-Paoli, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, and Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Bruno and their staff along with my Office of City Legislative Affairs for their work with the City Council on this bill.  I would also like to thank the Council for approving this legislation."