Assemblyman Tom Alfano and Governor George Pataki announced a new law that will assist law enforcement officials in finding and recovering abducted children by rapidly disseminating critical information to the public. The law according to Alfano will help law enforcement coordinate resources and information to help recovery efforts of an abducted child.

"This is an issue that hits close to home to our community," said Alfano noting, "When you see that two children from our own community are on "New York State's Lost Listing" it drives home the point that we have to do more to help prevent and find abducted children."

Alfano outlined that the Elmont and North Valley Stream community is actually listed on the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Top 15 Missing Children Poster. On it, the top 15 biographies of children who are missing and their vital statistics are explained. "This listing is a sobering reminder that we have to become more effective in finding ways and coordinating resources to help families recover a lost child," Alfano said adding, "We can't rest while there is a child who is missing."

Pat Boyle, director of Gateway Youth Outreach, noted, "This new law will help our community's children and families by helping law enforcement do their job and do it effectively."

The new law, which builds on the success of the recently implemented New York State Amber Alert Program (NYSAAP), calls for the development of a model missing child response plan. "By putting together a master plan we can take the necessary steps quickly to start the recovery of a child by pooling all information and resources," said Alfano.

"When a child is abducted every second counts, and that's why New York is moving forward with the rapid implementation of the Amber Alert Program," Governor Pataki said. "By immediately broadcasting key details on radio and TV stations throughout the state, the Amber Alert Program will help our law enforcement officials save lives and keep young people safe from harm."

"With the introduction of this new measure we'll be giving law enforcement, schools and the community at large the tools they need to help find a missing child," Alfano stated.

The new law enables the State Division of Criminal Justices Services (DCJS), in consultation with the state police and other agencies, to create a model abduction response and notification plan that will assist local law enforcement and communities in immediately responding to a report of a missing child. Additionally, the law will enable missing children reports to be provided to broadcast media outlets so public assistance and awareness can be facilitated within minutes of abduction.