SPRINGFIELD, IL – A bill co-sponsored by Illinois State Senator Maggie Crotty (D–Oak Forest) that will make it easier for 911 emergency services to receive information on a missing person has been signed into law by Governor Pat Quinn.

House Bill 1610 amends state law to allow the use of remote 911 dialing on behalf of critical missing persons. Remote dialing requires a wrist-worn device that connects directly to 911 emergency services.

"With the advent of this new technology, persons who are missing and in dire need of assistance can now, with the push of a button, receive the help they need, even without access to a telephone," Senator Crotty said.

The new legislation contains provisions to prevent false alarms or repeated calls for an incident, which could tie up the 911 system, as well as replacing an older RF (radio frequency) system that required searchers to care portable antennas during missing person searches.

"By streamlining the process and providing the tools to prevent false alarms, we are working with new technology to help find people who have gone missing as quickly as possible and reunite them with their loved ones," Senator Crotty said.