Missouri lawmakers hope to pass a bill that would improve the state’s Amber Alert system. A House committee heard the bill, known as Hailey’s Law, Monday afternoon.
The law would integrate the Amber Alert system into the state’s uniform law enforcement system to make the process move faster, and would require the Amber Alert Oversight committee to meet annually.
Hailey’s Law is named after Hailey Owens, a 10-year-old girl who was abducted and killed by Craig Wood in Springfield in 2014.
Marcus Owens, Hailey’s father, testified in support of the bill alongside Jim Wood, the father of Craig Wood. Jim Wood says he wishes the Amber Alert was released earlier on the day of Hailey’s abduction.
“I was within moments of Craig’s house, and I could have been to Craig’s house before Craig was there,” said Wood.
Senator Eric Burlison from Springfield sponsored the bill.
“The system failed a young girl that day. And this is the result of trying to attempt to find out what failed in that system and how to address it,” said Burlison.
The bill has already passed through the Senate.