SB0024: MISSING PERSONS IDENTIFICATION

Legislative Summary

Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that law enforcement agencies shall adopt a policy regarding missing person investigations and missing person reporting and follow-up actions. Provides that a law enforcement agency may not establish or maintain a policy that requires the observance of a waiting period before accepting a missing person report. Provides that a second or subsequent agency is not prohibited from entering a duplicate missing person report in LEADS; however, only one LEADS missing person report is required. Provides that any existing LEADS missing person report may be modified by the originating agency to include additional or updated information. Provides that a law enforcement agency shall notify a person in a position to assist the law enforcement agency in its efforts to locate a missing person of, among other things, information regarding the collection of documents and biological samples that could assist in the identification of a missing person, including dental charts and radiographs, medical records, fingerprints, and biological samples from the person's personal items or from the missing person's immediate biological members. Provides that, if the missing person remains missing for 60 days after the date of the report, then the law enforcement agency shall immediately generate (rather than may generate) a report of the missing person within the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). Provides that all photographs of the missing person that the law enforcement agency collected shall be added to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) record. Provides that, if a missing person remains missing for 30 days after the date of the police report, then the missing person's fingerprint record shall be added to the missing person entry in the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (LEADS). Provides that, if a missing person remains missing for 60 days after the date of the police report, then the missing person's fingerprint record shall be entered in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System(NamUs). Provides that, if a missing person remains missing for 60 days after the date of the police report, then the missing person's dental records shall be added to the missing person entry in the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (LEADS). Provides that biological samples shall be submitted to a Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) accredited laboratory (rather than a National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) partner laboratory). Removes language concerning uploading DNA profiles to the National DNA Index System (NDIS). Provides that a responding local law enforcement agency shall attempt to collect and submit any DNA samples (rather than may submit any DNA samples) voluntarily obtained from family members to an accredited Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) laboratory for DNA analysis within 90 days from the date of the police report (rather than to a National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) partner laboratory within 60 days from the date of the police report). Provides that, if an anthropological analysis report determines remains to be historic or prehistoric, then no NCIC entry is required. Provides that, in the case of markedly decomposed or skeletal remains, a forensic anthropological analysis of the remains, authorized by the coroner or medical examiner, shall also be performed within 60 days from the recovery and preparation of the remains for the analysis. Makes other changes.