COLUMBUS - Ohio will develop a system for quickly alerting the public to child abductions if legislation introduced Thursday is approved.

        The “Amber Alert” system would be modeled after plans in at least 14 states.

        Amber Alerts are named for a Texas girl murdered in 1996.

        Sen. Kevin Coughlin, a Cuyahoga Falls Republican, said an Amber Alert system in Ohio could help save the lives of children abducted by strangers.

        Other states have used Amber Alerts successfully, “and I believe it's the prudent thing to do to assist local law enforcement investigations here in Ohio,” Mr. Coughlin said.

        If passed, the bill would create a system for triggering an alert, which would include descriptions of the missing child and any suspects.

        The alerts would be sent to radio and television stations statewide.

        The bill also contains guidelines for when an alert can be issued. For example, a child kidnapped as a result of a custody dispute probably would not qualify.

        Cincinnati has a similar Child Abduction Alert Program. Columbus has a Stranger Abduction Alert system and Akron is creating a regional system.

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