Rep. Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, on Wednesday secured unanimous passage of a bill in the House of Representatives that would alert residents in close proximity of a correctional facility in the event of a prisoner escape.

House Bill 1546 would direct the Oklahoma Department of Corrections to develop an Orange Alert communication system at each correctional facility in the state to notify any resident within a 40-mile radius of the facility when a prisoner has escaped.

Moore explained the language for the bill originally was drafted by Katie Edelen, a high school senior from Arapaho-Butler Public Schools during her attendance at "Capitol Camp" last summer. The program, held at the State Capitol, is hosted by the Oklahoma Farm Bureau for high school FFA and 4-H students.

"Katie and her family lived through a frightening situation created by escaped inmates," Moore said. "I could not be more proud of her courage and leadership in taking such a difficult situation and working to produce a positive result by creating this language to protect the residents of the state of Oklahoma. Residents who have a prison nearby deserve to be notified immediately if their safety is in danger from an escaped prisoner."

Moore said the alert would work similar to the state's Amber Alert system that people get on their cell phones. It would alert those who live within a 40-mile radius of the correctional facility where an inmate has escaped.

HB1546 passed 96-0 in the House. It now moves to the state Senate where it is authored by Sen. Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher.

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