Senate committee revives Project LEO, approves $1M to help locate missing persons with special needs

A Florida Senate committee reported SB 1570 favorably after the sponsor said the bill would revive Project LEO, a program to help locate missing persons with special needs who are at high risk of elopement.

President Gaetz told the committee that Project LEO, originally created in 2016 and operated through the Centers for Autism and Related Disabilities, had expired under a sunset provision and that SB 1570 restores the same framework. He said the bill "allows participating centers to work with local sheriff's offices to provide voluntary tracking devices for individuals who are at significant risk of wandering" and provides nonrecurring funding of $1,000,000 to operate the program.

Senator Berman expressed support and noted prior work on the Purple Alert for missing adults with developmental disabilities; she and others said tracking devices and the revived program could save lives. Senator Harrell also urged support, citing increasing diagnoses and drowning risks among some children with autism and recounting disappointment when the pilot program lost funding previously.

President Gaetz closed and the clerk called the roll; the committee recorded votes and reported SB 1570 favorably to the next stage.

What the bill does: SB 1570 restores a previously sunsetting program (Project LEO) that partners centers and local law enforcement to provide voluntary tracking devices for people with special needs at risk of elopement, and authorizes $1,000,000 in nonrecurring funding for initial operation.