History of Silver Alert in Timeline

Silver Alerts are public notifications in the U.S. for missing persons, particularly seniors with Alzheimer's, dementia, or other mental impairments. The system broadcasts information to help locate them, aiming to quickly find vulnerable individuals who may be at risk due to their condition. The alert system is similar to Amber Alerts for missing children, but focuses on elderly individuals with cognitive impairments who wander or become lost. It utilizes various media channels to disseminate information to the public, increasing the chances of a safe return.

2003: Veto of Silver Alert legislation in New York

In 2003, Governor George Pataki vetoed Silver Alert legislation in New York, citing his concern that it would weaken the Amber Alert system and make the alerts too common.

April 2004: Disappearance of Mattie Moore

In April 2004, public efforts to locate missing seniors increased following the disappearance of Mattie Moore, a 68-year-old Atlanta resident with Alzheimer's disease.

December 2005: Announcement of "Silver Alert"

In December 2005, Oklahoma state Representative Fred Perry announced his intention to introduce an "AMBER Alert for seniors", which he dubbed "Silver Alert."

March 2006: Oklahoma House passes resolution for Silver Alert

In March 2006, the Oklahoma House of Representatives passed H.R. 1075, a resolution calling for a Silver Alert system to find missing seniors.

April 2006: Enactment of statewide Mattie's Call program in Georgia

In April 2006, legislation to create a statewide Mattie's Call program was enacted in Georgia.

2006: Inception of Mattie's Call in Georgia

In 2006, Mattie's Call was initiated in Georgia, leading to the safe return of 70 out of 71 calls issued by January 2009.

September 2007: Silver Alert system invoked in Texas

In September 2007, the Silver Alert system was invoked 52 times in Texas in its first year following its inception. Of these alerts, 48 of the missing seniors were located safely.

February 26, 2008: Incident leading to pilot Silver Alert program in Florida

On February 26, 2008, an 86-year-old person drove away from her assisted-living facility in Florida, prompting local and state government officials to develop a pilot Silver Alert program.

May 2008: Introduction of the National Silver Alert Act

In May 2008, Representative Lloyd Doggett introduced the National Silver Alert Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. Similar legislation was filed by Representatives Gus Bilirakis and Sue Myrick.

September 2008: National Silver Alert Act passed by House

In September 2008, the National Silver Alert Act was passed by the House of Representatives by a voice vote.

October 2008: Initiation of Silver Alert program in Florida

In October 2008, the Silver Alert program was initiated in Florida.

2008: Silver Alerts issued in North Carolina

In 2008, 128 Silver Alerts were issued in North Carolina, resulting in 118 seniors being safely recovered.

January 2009: Mattie's Call statistics in Georgia

In January 2009, it was reported that Mattie's Call in Georgia garnered a safe return for 70 of the 71 calls issued between its inception in 2006 and January 2009.

February 11, 2009: National Silver Alert Act passed by the House of Representatives

On February 11, 2009, the National Silver Alert Act was passed by the House of Representatives on a voice vote.

April 2009: Silver Alert program permanently established in Oklahoma

In April 2009, Governor Brad Henry signed legislation permanently establishing the Silver Alert program in Oklahoma.

2009: Silver Alerts issued in Florida

In Florida, 136 Silver Alerts were issued in 2009, its first year, leading to 131 safe recoveries.

2012: Review of missing-senior programs

In 2012, a review of research into missing-senior programs found that Silver Alert had not been evaluated to determine its effectiveness in returning people to safety. The review characterized Silver Alert's rate of facilitating returns of missing people as impossible to tell, criticizing it for prioritizing safety over civil rights and noting that broadcasting a missing person's identity might put them at risk for exploitation.

December 12, 2013: Reintroduction of National Silver Alert Act

On December 12, 2013, Senator Joe Manchin reintroduced the National Silver Alert Act as S.1814 in the 113th Congress. It was referred to the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary but was not voted on before the U.S. Senate adjourned.