Abinanti to Introduce New York Version of "Avonte's Law"

Assemblyman Tom Abinanti (D-Greenburgh/Mt. Pleasant) is introducing a New York version of “Avonte’s Law” to set up a state-wide program to make it easier to locate missing vulnerable persons. The need for the program was highlighted by the recent tragedy where Avonte Oquendo, who had autism, wandered away from his school and was never found alive.

“New York’s first priority is to safeguard our citizens at home, in school and in the community. This is especially necessary for people with special needs,” said Abinanti. “The Avonte tragedy shows we need to use modern technology.”

Abinanti is basing his legislation on a successful program currently used in Westchester County called Project Lifesaver, a nation-wide program that fits vulnerable people with a special bracelet. Should the wearer wander away, trained and equipped police use a radio finder to locate the wearer using radio signals transmitted from the bracelet. Project Lifesaver is suited for all who have a disability including children with autism and seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.

Abinanti is hoping that the state and counties can access funding provided under a bill being introduced by U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who introduced a federal “Avonte’s Law” to provide funding for tracking device programs .

“Through Westchester’s program, police ‘found’ several seniors who had wandered – saving untold hours for searchers and probably saving the seniors’ lives,” said the Westchester Assemblyman. “This New York bill will work in tandem with Senator Schumer’s to safeguard people with special needs throughout New York.”