Maryland bills aim to protect people with autism, dementia who wander

Lawmakers advance 'elopement' legislation inspired by Harford County family's experience

Mar. 22, 2026 at 1:34pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Maryland lawmakers are advancing a package of bills inspired by a Harford County family to improve safety and response for people with autism or dementia who wander. The legislation, known as the LEAD Act, is named for Shari Bailey's autistic daughter Laila, who once ran off without a trace. The bills would affect how schools, health insurers and state agencies respond to elopement, and require police training for such situations.

Why it matters

Elopement, or wandering off, is a serious issue that affects many families caring for individuals with autism, dementia, and other disabilities. Without proper safety measures and response protocols, these incidents can lead to dangerous and even fatal outcomes. The LEAD Act aims to address this problem and provide more resources and protections for vulnerable populations.

The details

The LEAD Act package includes five bills, with the two main pieces being House Bill 634 and Senate Bill 745, which require police training for elopement situations. Another bill, House Bill 1182, would allow parents to share tracking device data with their child's school to aid in locating them if they wander off. While some bills with significant fiscal impacts face additional scrutiny, advocates are hopeful the core legislation can advance before the legislative session ends.

  • On March 16, 2026, the Maryland Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 745.
  • On March 22, 2026, the Maryland House unanimously passed House Bill 634.
  • On March 22, 2026, the Maryland House also approved House Bill 1182.

The players

Shari Bailey

A Harford County mother whose autistic daughter Laila once ran off without a trace, inspiring the LEAD Act legislation.

Laila

Shari Bailey's autistic daughter who once wandered off, leading her mother to advocate for the LEAD Act bills.

Aaron M. Kaufman

A Montgomery County Democratic delegate who expressed support for the legislation that 'will save lives and put the minds of parents at ease.'

Melissa Rosenberg

The executive director of the Autism Society Maryland, who acknowledged the state will have to prioritize legislation due to budget constraints.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I'm overwhelmed, in a good way”

— Shari Bailey, Harford County mother

“This is such a good step for Maryland … It's going to touch so many lives”

— Shari Bailey, Harford County mother

“I was 'elated' to support legislation 'that will save lives and put the minds of parents at ease'”

— Aaron M. Kaufman, Montgomery County Democratic delegate

“There are some hard choices to be made this session, absolutely. It would be great if they can do it. I would imagine a lot of the things that we'd like to have done are very expensive. The state is going to have to prioritize.”

— Melissa Rosenberg, Executive director of the Autism Society Maryland

What’s next

The two main bills, House Bill 634 and Senate Bill 745, must now go through the opposite chamber before being sent to the governor for signature. Other bills in the LEAD Act package, such as House Bill 1117 which would require Medicaid coverage for monitoring devices, face additional scrutiny due to budget constraints.

The takeaway

The LEAD Act legislation represents a significant step forward in protecting vulnerable populations like those with autism and dementia who are at risk of wandering and elopement. By improving police training, expanding school safety measures, and increasing access to tracking devices, the bills aim to save lives and provide much-needed peace of mind for families dealing with this serious issue.