Following the recent tragedy that deeply affected the Capital Region, Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara today announced legislation creating the New York State Take Me Home Program, a new voluntary statewide initiative designed to help families be better prepared before an emergency happens and provide first responders with critical information when every minute counts.

The New York State Take Me Home Program would create a secure, voluntary statewide registry where individuals, parents, legal guardians and caregivers could choose to provide important emergency information before a crisis occurs. During a missing person investigation or other emergency, authorized first responders could securely access information such as recent photographs, emergency contacts, communication needs, medical considerations, behavioral characteristics and other important details that could help locate and safely assist a vulnerable individual.

 “When someone you love goes missing, every minute matters,” Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara said. “The New York State Take Me Home Program gives families the opportunity to be better prepared before an emergency happens. By providing important information ahead of time, first responders can spend less time gathering critical details and more time focusing on safely bringing someone home.”

 The program is designed to help individuals who may not be able to communicate with first responders, identify themselves or safely find their way home during an emergency. This includes many children and adults with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, dementia, traumatic brain injuries and other conditions that increase the risk of wandering or becoming lost.

 The proposal comes as communities across New York continue important conversations about protecting vulnerable individuals and supporting families following the recent loss of a young child with autism in the Capital Region.

The recent tragedy has sparked important conversations throughout the Capital Region about how to better protect vulnerable children and support families during emergencies. Over the past several weeks, Santabarbara has met with families, disability advocates, law enforcement agencies and community organizations to discuss wandering prevention, emergency preparedness and available resources. Most recently, he participated in a community program hosted by the Autism Society of the Greater Hudson Region and the Al-Hidaya Center’s BARAKA Program, where families, advocates and first responders came together to focus on prevention, preparedness and community support. Santabarbara said those conversations helped shape the legislation and reinforced the need for a statewide program that allows families to be better prepared before an emergency occurs.

 As Chair of the Assembly Committee on People with Disabilities, Assemblyman Santabarbara said the legislation focuses on preparedness, giving families the opportunity to voluntarily share critical information before it is ever needed.

 “We can’t predict when an emergency will happen, but we can be better prepared,” Santabarbara said. “The New York State Take Me Home Program is about giving families peace of mind and giving first responders the information they need before a crisis occurs. Better preparation can save valuable time when every minute counts.”

 The New York State Take Me Home Program is designed to complement New York’s existing missing person alert programs, including the Missing Child Alert program, by helping families be better prepared before an emergency occurs and providing first responders with critical information when it matters most.

 Santabarbara said he plans to continue working with families, disability advocates, law enforcement agencies and legislative colleagues to identify challenges, develop solutions and advance additional initiatives to better protect individuals with disabilities and other vulnerable New Yorkers during the upcoming legislative session.