Posted: | June 15, 2017 04:34 PM |
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From: | Senator Patrick M. Browne |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Legislation establishing the Project Lifesaver Program |
In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation to create a state-funded pilot program in Pennsylvania to aid families and local emergency agencies in locating individuals with cognitive (and mental) disorders/conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Autism and Down Syndrome who have wandered away from their home or family. The Project Lifesaver program was established in April of 1999 as an initiative of the 43rd Search and Rescue Company of the Chesapeake Sheriff's Office. Project Lifesaver International is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization headed by retired law enforcement. Project Lifesaver is now located in 46 states, 5 provinces in Canada and Australia and has been credited with over 3,000 recoveries. The program places personalized radio transmitters on identified persons that assist caregivers and local emergency agencies in locating those individuals who cannot help themselves. With the use of this technology, local emergency teams responding to calls have an average rescue time of less than 30 minutes. This program will be funded and administered through the Pennsylvania Crime and Delinquency Commission (PCCD) who will provide the resources for the selected agencies to purchase and be trained on state-of-the-art technology and radio transmitting bracelets through the Project Lifesaver program. A percentage of the funding will go to establish new members through the pilot program. Members are public safety agencies that have received the proper training and have the equipment and bracelets to administer the tracking. Another percentage will go to agencies in the state that already are members to purchase updated equipment if needed and bracelets. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important life-saving legislation that will bring peace of mind to families, knowing their loved ones are safer and able to stay home longer. |
Introduced as SB833