Project Lifesaver program requirement for counties.
Summary
HB 1153 creates a new chapter in the Indiana Code requiring every county to establish and maintain a Project Lifesaver program by January 1, 2026. Project Lifesaver is defined as a community-based public safety nonprofit program that helps law enforcement, fire and rescue agencies, and caregivers locate individuals with cognitive disorders who are prone to wandering. The bill is aimed at expanding local public safety and search-and-rescue support for vulnerable residents, particularly people with dementia, autism, or other cognitive impairments that can lead to wandering.
The bill also assigns responsibility for oversight to the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services, which must ensure county compliance and report county compliance status to the General Assembly by March 1, 2026. Counties would be required to fund the program through their fiscal bodies, which must appropriate and approve the necessary money. The division is authorized to adopt rules to implement the chapter, and the bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
Impact
HB 1153 would add IC 36-8-28.4 to Indiana law and impose a new mandate on county governments statewide to create and maintain Project Lifesaver programs. It would also create a state oversight role for the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services, including compliance monitoring and legislative reporting, while shifting the financial responsibility to county fiscal bodies. The bill would affect counties, local public safety agencies, caregivers, and residents with cognitive disorders who are at risk of wandering.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text alone and the absence of committee testimony or recorded votes, the measure appears to be framed as a public safety and disability-support initiative rather than a controversial policy change. The overall sentiment suggested by the proposal is likely supportive of protecting vulnerable individuals and assisting first responders and caregivers. However, the lack of discussion records means there is no direct evidence of support or opposition from legislators or stakeholders.
Contention
The main likely point of contention is the mandate itself: counties would be required to establish and maintain the program, rather than being allowed to opt in, which could raise concerns about local control and administrative burden. A second possible issue is funding, since the bill requires county fiscal bodies to appropriate the necessary money without providing a state funding source. Counties may also question the practicality of uniform compliance, especially for smaller or resource-constrained jurisdictions, while advocates would likely emphasize the safety benefits for people with cognitive disorders who wander.