Rep. Leadbeter shares an emotional moment with Hannah Ha, Aiden Ha’s mother.
Rep. Robert Leadbeter
Harrisburg, Pa. — State Representative Robert Leadbeter, Columbia County, joined family members of Aiden Ha, legislators, and advocates to announce the formal introduction of Aiden’s Law to the Pa. House. The initiative is named after a six-year-old nonverbal autistic child from Columbia County who went missing and was found dead in a river in October.
The legislation, also called House Bill 2102, would create a Purple Alert system in Pa. Similar to the Amber Alert for abducted children, Silver Alert for missing older adults, and Green Alert for missing at-risk veterans, a Purple Alert system would rapidly notify the public and law enforcement when an individual with certain cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities goes missing.
“Aiden’s heartbreaking passing shattered our communities,” said Rep. Leadbeter. “As a father, every parent’s worst nightmare is losing their child. As a brother of a police officer, I know firsthand how law enforcement is the last line of defense to protect those who are unable to do so themselves. This effort has bipartisan support. We must act with urgency and enact this into law so tragedies like these can be prevented from happening again.”
Sara Nye offers opening remarks during a press conference about the introduction of Aiden’s Law
Rep. Robert Leadbeter
Sara Nye, an advocate from Hershey who has been a determined supporter of implementing the Purple Alert system, offered opening remarks.
“Stories like Aiden’s make me so sad,” Nye said. “I want to thank the representative for introducing the HB 2102 Purple Alert, Aiden’s Law, in the House and Senate. I am asking all the Pa. representatives and senators, let’s have this session be the time that the Purple Alert is passed and we end the sad endings for families.”
The full announcement is available to watch below, courtesy of the Pa. House GOP.
According to Leadbeter, Pennsylvania would join Florida, Maryland, Kansas, Mississippi, Connecticut and West Virginia if Purple Alerts are added to the Commonwealth.
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