SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5556

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Law & Justice (originally sponsored by Senators Darneille, Dammeier, Schlicher, Conway, Roach, McAuliffe, Becker, Carrell, Delvin and Shin).

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5556 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Padden, Chair; Carrell, Vice Chair; Kline, Ranking Member; Darneille, Kohl-Welles, Pearson and Roach.

Background: The Endangered Missing Person Advisory (EMPA) program was developed and implemented in 2010. Its purpose is to enhance the public's ability to assist in recovering endangered missing persons who do not qualify for inclusion in an Amber Alert. The Amber Alert plan was originally designed to collect information about missing children. EMPA is initiated by law enforcement when the Amber Alert criteria are not met and a person is missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances; the person is believed to be in danger; the incident was reported to law enforcement; and there is enough descriptive information available to assist in the person's recovery.

Summary of Substitute Bill: Missing endangered person is defined as a person believed to be in danger because of age, health, mental or physical disability, a combination of environmental or weather conditions, or is believed to be unable to return safely without assistance. The Missing Children Clearinghouse is renamed the Missing Children and Endangered Person Clearinghouse. The EMPA plan is created and maintained by the Washington State Patrol (WSP). Social media may be used to enhance the public's ability to assist in recovering abducted children or missing endangered persons. Law enforcement agencies must file the missing person report into the state missing person computerized network within six hours instead of within 12 hours.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill: PRO: This bill passed the Senate last year and this year, and the current technical amendment will make it even better. Not enough people know about this system, so it is severely underutilized. The system need more visibility. We need this bill to prevent a repeat of past tragedies. The present system is not working well and the delays in using the system are not helping.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Darneille, prime sponsor; Mark Allen, WA State Assn. of Broadcasters; Diana Stradden, The Arc of WA State; Cecil Daily, citizen.

House Amendment(s): The definition of missing endangered person is limited to include persons with developmental disabilities or vulnerable adults believed to be in danger because of age, health, mental or physical disability, in combination with environmental or weather conditions, or is believed to be unable to return to safety without assistance.