Gov. Kay Ivey has signed into law an expanded version of Alabama’s Missing and Endangered Persons Alert to now include an adult that has been abducted.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency on Friday announced the change, effective immediately.

Previously, the criteria for a Missing and Endangered Person Alert stated that a person must be missing and living with a mental or physical disability, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or autism and is at risk of bodily harm or death.

The newly expanded alert will include any adult, 18 and older, who has been abducted and is believed to be in danger.

“We are constantly analyzing our processes and procedures to improve and better serve the citizens of Alabama,’’ said ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor.

“Our Fusion Center recognized a need to expand this alert criteria and we are extremely thankful for the support of Governor Ivey and the Legislature, who continuously work with us to enhance the tools and resources we have,” Taylor said.

Alabama has four Missing Person Alerts: Amber Alert, Emergency Missing Child Alert, Missing and Endangered Persons Alert and Blue Alert.

With the exception of the Amber Alert, all three alerts (Emergency Missing Child, Missing and Endangered Persons and Blue) are in accordance with Alabama law and the various alerts criteria are set by statute.

The Amber Alert is a nationwide program in which most states, including Alabama, adhere to the Department of Justice’s recommended guidelines and criteria for the alert.

The Alabama Fusion Center, a unit within ALEA’s State Bureau of Investigation, is responsible for issuing Amber Alerts, Emergency Missing Child Alerts, Blue Alerts and Emergency Missing Persons Alerts throughout the state.

The Alabama Center for Missing and Exploited Children operates within the Fusion Center and serves as a liaison between citizens, private organizations, and law enforcement officials regarding missing and exploited children and adults.

Only a law enforcement agency can make a request to activate the state alert system and each alert program contains criteria that must be met.

In any situation regarding a missing child or adult, the first step is to notify law enforcement immediately.

None of the alerts’ criteria require a person to have been missing for a certain amount of time.