By Bob Katzen

Would create a Purple Alert system to assist law enforcement in identifying and locating missing persons with disabilities. The system would be modeled after the current Amber Alert system which is designed to ask the public for help in finding abducted children.

The Purple Alert would apply to a person with at least one of these conditions: a mental or cognitive disability that is not Alzheimer’s disease or a dementia-related disorder; an intellectual disability or a developmental disability including Down syndrome; a brain injury; or another physical, mental or emotional disability that is not related to substance abuse.

“The Amber Alert system has demonstrated extraordinary, life-saving effectiveness, contributing to the recovery of more than 1,000 children since its inception in 1996,” said sponsor Rep. Jack Lewis (D-Framingham). “However, no parallel mechanism currently exists to assist in identifying and locating adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities who may be missing or endangered. Several states, including Connecticut, Rhode Island and Florida, have enacted Purple Alert legislation to address this gap. I look forward to examining how similar legislation could strengthen the commonwealth’s capacity to protect and serve all of its residents.”

BAN USE OF TEAR GAS AGAINST CIVILIANS (S 1758) – Would ban the use of tear gas on civilians and require that police actively work in good faith with organizers of mass demonstrations to avoid conflict. It would require a police department with advance knowledge of the event to designate an officer in charge of de-escalation planning to discuss the logistical plans and strategies with the demonstration organizers.

“Tear gas is banned as a weapon of war,” said sponsor Sen. Becca Rausch (D-Needham). “It should not be used against civilians on domestic soil. Tear gas can cause serious, long-term health impacts, including blindness, emotional trauma and reproductive health repercussions. Using tear gas is an outdated and dangerous crowd-control tactic that adds to chaos and violence rather than reducing it. This ban, which includes support for de-escalation measures, would make the commonwealth safer for demonstrators and police alike.”