A new law taking effect in Illinois at the start of 2026 aims to enhance protections for individuals with developmental disabilities who go missing.
Senate Bill 1548 establishes the Golden Search Awareness Program. State Senator Paul Faraci (D-Champaign), a sponsor of the legislation, says the measure will equip law enforcement, families, and communities with better resources to respond when a person with developmental disabilities is missing.
The new program will operate in coordination with the state’s existing Endangered Missing Person Advisory and will expand the tools available beyond current AMBER, EMPA, and Silver Alerts. “We need a specialized alert system for vulnerable populations—especially individuals who may not understand the dangers they’re in or cannot effectively communicate,” Faraci explained. “The Golden Search Awareness Program creates a clear protocol for notifying the public and police when at-risk Illinoisans go missing.”
Faraci also emphasized that increased public awareness and agency coordination will help Illinois respond more effectively when people disappear.
Senate Bill 1548 takes effect on January 1, 2026. The full text of the law is available online by clicking on the word, here.