FINAL BILL REPORT
SHB 1725
C 256 L 22
Synopsis as Enacted
Brief Description: Concerning the creation of an endangered missing person advisory designation for missing indigenous persons.
Sponsors: House Committee on Public Safety (originally sponsored by Representatives Lekanoff, Goodman, Berry, Taylor, Valdez, Bateman, Macri, Peterson, Ramel, Simmons, Orwall, Chopp, Stonier, Harris-Talley and Frame; by request of Attorney General).
House Committee on Public Safety
Senate Committee on Law & Justice
Senate Committee on Ways & Means
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.  A "missing endangered person" is a person who is believed to be in danger due to a specified condition or circumstance and who is a person with a developmental disability, a vulnerable adult, or a person diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or other age-related dementia.  Washington's EMPA plan includes a Silver Alert designation to assist in the recovery of missing endangered persons age 60 or older.

Summary:

The Washington State Patrol must establish a Missing Indigenous Person 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 Person 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 person.

 

The definition of "missing endangered person" is expanded to include missing Indigenous women or persons.

Votes on Final Passage:
House 95 0
Senate 46 0 (Senate amended)
House 98 0 (House concurred)
Effective:

June 9, 2022