Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Public Safety Committee
HB 1725
Brief Description: Concerning the creation of an endangered missing person advisory designation for missing indigenous persons.
Sponsors: Representatives Lekanoff, Goodman, Berry, Taylor, Valdez, Bateman, Macri, Peterson, Ramel, Simmons, Orwall, Chopp, Stonier, Harris-Talley and Frame; by request of Attorney General.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Requires the Washington State Patrol to establish a Missing Indigenous Women and Persons Alert designation as a part of its Endangered Missing Person Advisory plan.
Hearing Date: 1/14/22
Staff: Corey Patton (786-7388).
Background:

The America's Missing Broadcast Emergency Response (AMBER) Alert system is a system in which broadcasters, cable systems, and law enforcement agencies voluntarily cooperate to assist in finding abducted children.  The Washington State Patrol (WSP) is the lead agency for the AMBER Alert plan in Washington.  An AMBER Alert may be activated directly by a local law enforcement agency that has either an approved local AMBER Alert plan or a mutual aid agreement with an agency that has an approved plan or directly by the WSP if the local law enforcement agency does not have an approved plan.
 
The WSP is also responsible for operating a Missing Children and Endangered Person (MCEP) Clearinghouse.  The MCEP Clearinghouse involves the voluntary cooperation between local, state, tribal, and other law enforcement agencies, state government agencies, radio and television stations, and cable and satellite systems to enhance the public's ability to assist in recovering endangered missing persons who do not qualify for inclusion in an AMBER Alert.  In an instance where a missing person does not qualify for an alert under the AMBER Alert system, an Endangered Missing Person Advisory (EMPA) alert may be activated.  Washington's EMPA plan includes a Silver Alert designation to assist in the recovery of missing endangered persons age 60 or older.
Summary of Bill:

The Washington State Patrol must establish a Missing Indigenous Women and Persons Alert designation as a part of its Endangered Missing Person Advisory plan, for voluntary cooperation between local, state, tribal, and other law enforcement agencies, state government agencies, radio and television stations, cable and satellite systems, and social media pages and sites to enhance the public's ability to assist in recovery efforts.
 
"Missing Indigenous Women and Persons Alert" means the designated title of a missing endangered person advisory that will be used on a variable message sign and text of the highway advisory radio message when used as part of an activated advisory to assist in the recovery of a missing indigenous woman or person.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.