Recently, the Maryland House took a significant step forward by passing a bill designed to protect individuals with autism and dementia who may wander away from their caregivers.
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Shari Bailey expressed her overwhelming emotions this week upon receiving a text from a lawmaker, informing her that the House had passed a bill inspired by her daughter, aimed at improving safety measures for individuals with autism or dementia who may wander off.
This positive news comes amidst a series of advancements for a collection of bills that Bailey supports, which address the critical issue of “elopement.”
On Wednesday, the House voted unanimously to approve House Bill 634, mandating police training for situations involving elopement, a practice that currently lacks standardization across Maryland. This decisive vote followed a unanimous approval from the Senate for a similar bill, Senate Bill 745, paving the path toward final approval for both measures.
“I’m truly overwhelmed in the best way,” stated Bailey, a mother from Harford County, shortly after the House’s decision.
These two bills are crucial components of a broader legislative package comprising five initiatives that are progressing under the LEAD Act—Laila’s Elopement Awareness and Dissemination Act. Named after Bailey’s daughter, Laila, who once went missing, this act seeks to address a frightening reality faced by many families caring for individuals with disabilities. Thankfully, Laila was found safe after her incident.
The proposed legislation aims to modify the response of schools, health insurance providers, and state agencies regarding elopement. In addition, it also encompasses House Bill 634 and Senate Bill 745, both of which require standardized police training for elopement scenarios.
Later that same day, the House also approved House Bill 1182, which enables parents of children with autism and other disabilities to share the usage of tracking devices with their child’s school. This initiative will assist school administrators in locating a child if they wander off.
Del. Aaron M. Kaufman (D-Montgomery) expressed his joy in voting for legislation that promises to “save lives and ease the concerns of parents.” However, with no Senate counterpart for HB 1182, it must first pass a Senate committee before reaching the full Senate for consideration.
This marks the inaugural year for the package of elopement bills, and their current trajectory of support is quite remarkable for new proposals in Annapolis, where legislators typically prefer to see bills reintroduced over multiple sessions. Bailey conveyed her excitement over the progress of the main bills and remains hopeful that the additional related legislation will also succeed in the month’s remaining legislative sessions.
“This is an essential step for Maryland … It’s going to impact so many lives,” she commented.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1 in 31 eight-year-olds is diagnosed with autism. Various autism-focused organizations estimate that around 45%-50% of children with autism have been reported to wander or escape from safe environments when not under the supervision of a trusted adult.
Moreover, the safety challenges associated with developmental disabilities extend to individuals with dementia, who may inadvertently leave their surroundings due to confusion. Other developmental disabilities can similarly lead to elopement behaviors.
This legislative package was, in part, inspired by Bailey’s alarming experience in 2020, when her then-six-year-old daughter Laila wandered away while under the supervision of a caregiver. Fortunately, Laila was located unharmed that day. However, the fear Bailey experienced motivated her to collaborate with Maryland lawmakers, ensuring that other families would have access to better resources when confronted with similar situations.
Not all elements of the LEAD Act package are advancing smoothly. Bills requiring significant funding justifications are encountering challenges, particularly House Bill 1117, which would mandate Maryland Medicaid and other state programs to cover the costs of monitoring devices classified as “medical equipment” for those at higher risk of elopement.
The financial implications of this measure could result in annual costs averaging $848 per individual. Although federal funds could assist in offsetting some expenses, the current budget constraints make every dollar critical. This bill still awaits a committee vote.
Advocates expressed concerns that difficult decisions may need to be made, even if lawmakers recognize the necessity of the legislation.
“There will undoubtedly be some tough choices ahead this session,” remarked Melissa Rosenberg, executive director of the Autism Society Maryland. “While it would be wonderful for legislators to proceed, many initiatives we’re pushing for carry significant costs, and the state will need to prioritize.”
Two other bills are progressing, although their pace remains uncertain. One measure seeks to extend the mandatory mapping requirements within schools to include a mile radius around campuses, taking into account any nearby water sources—an urgent consideration since many fatalities among wandering autistic children are linked to drowning incidents. This proposal awaits a final House vote, possibly occurring this weekend, but lacks a Senate counterpart.
Furthermore, another bill is advocating for the state health department to develop a resource webpage for family caregivers providing care to individuals due to age, disability, chronic illness, or other functional limitations. This resource would include safety planning details regarding wandering and elopement. This legislation passed out of the House Health Committee last Friday and is en route to the full House. Currently, this proposal also lacks a Senate version.
As the legislative timeline progresses to Monday’s “crossover” deadline—when bills must transition from their initial chambers to facilitate consideration—advocates like Bailey maintain hope for resolving the financial challenges hindering additional elements of the LEAD Act bills.
Moreover, Bailey acknowledges that raising awareness about elopement has proven to be invaluable, especially as she has testified on LEAD Act bills this year.
“I have received feedback like, ‘I had no idea what elopement was until I saw your bills,'” she noted. “Education has been an essential aspect of this process.”
