Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has proposed a far-reaching new law that would force taxpayers to cover the costs of placing tracking devices on autistic children after 14-year-old autistic child Avonte Oquendo was found dead last week. The tracking devices would not be implanted, but would instead be attached to watches, ankle bracelets, belts, or shoelaces. “The program would be completely voluntary for parents and run by local law enforcement,” Schumer’s office announced.
Schumer himself said, “Avonte’s running away was not an isolated incident. This is a high-tech solution to an age-old problem.”
Studies show that approximately half of autistic children wander away from supervised areas. The legislation would grant $10 million for the program.