"Suzanne's Law" Signed By President Bush

Washington, DC -"Suzanne's Law" requiring local police to notify the National Crime Information Center when someone between 18 and 21 is reported missing was signed into law by President Bush as part of the national "Amber Alert" bill last month. The federal law is named after Suzanne Lyall (pictured right), a State University of New York at Albany student who has been missing since 1998. Previously police were only required to report missing persons under the age of 18. This new law, sponsored by Congressman John Sweeney (R-NY) is intended to spur police to initiate prompt investigations into missing young people.

Doug and Mary Lyall, Suzanne's parents championed the law. "I just hope that it's going to bring back some of these kids," said Mary Lyall in an Associated Press article. "They need as much protection while they're at college."

WASHINGTON (AP) - The nationwide "Amber Alert'' system signed into law Wednesday at a White House ceremony had special meaning for a Ballston Spa couple, whose missing daughter was the impetus for a little-noticed provision in the anti-kidnapping legislation.

"Suzanne's Law'' requires local authorities to notify the National Crime Information Center immediately if someone between the ages of 18 and 21 goes missing.

Named after 19-year-old SUNY-Albany student Suzanne Lyall, who vanished in 1998, the law is designed to encourage police to begin investigating immediately when college-age people disappear, instead of waiting a day, which has been a common practice.

Bush, flanked by families of kidnapped children and rescued Utah teen Elizabeth Smart, signed the wide-ranging legislation launching the kidnap alert system during a ceremony at the Rose Garden.

Doug and Mary Lyall, Suzanne's parents, didn't even have a chance to catch the ceremony on television.

They were busy accepting an award from the Saratoga County bar association for their long campaign to help find missing people, including a website designed to help families of the missing. "I still haven't had a chance to turn on the TV, but this is great,'' said Mary. "I just hope that it's going to bring back some of these kids. They need as much protection while they're at college."

In the Lyalls' case, police did not begin investigating their daughter's disappearance until nearly two days after Suzanne disappeared.

The new law named after her and drafted by Rep. John Sweeney, R-Clifton Park, is designed to get an immediate police investigation in such cases. "A lot can happen in two days. You can go to China in two days,'' said Mary.