(ONN) – A new measure to protect children with autism is working its way through the Ohio Legislature.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that the Joshua Alert Law unanimously passed the Ohio House of Representatives.

House Bill 359 would require local law enforcement to notify the statewide emergency alert system immediately if a missing child is known to have autism or developmental disabilities.

The bill is named after six-year-old Joshua al-Lateef Junior, who went missing last November and did not meet the criteria for an alert.

The nonverbal child drowned.

The bill now heads to the Senate.