S-831                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 3276

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State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Senators McDermott, Talmadge, Stratton, Gaspard, Kreidler, DeJarnatt, Halsan, Conner, McManus, Peterson, Fleming, Goltz, Rasmussen, Garrett, Wojahn, Bauer, Hansen, Bottiger, Thompson, Bender, Granlund, Owen, Williams, Lee, Barr and von Reichbauer; by Lieutenant Governor request

Read first time 1/23/85 and referred to Committee on Judiciary.

AN ACT Relating to missing children; adding a new chapter to Title 13 RCW; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The Washington state patrol shall establish a missing children clearinghouse.  The clearinghouse shall distribute information to local law enforcement agencies, school districts, and the general public regarding missing children.  The information shall include pictures, bulletins, training sessions, reports, and biographical materials that will assist in local law enforcement efforts to locate missing children.  The state patrol shall also maintain a regularly updated computerized link with national and other state-wide missing person systems or clearinghouses.

          "Child" or "children," as used in this chapter, means an individual under eighteen years of age.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     Local law enforcement agencies shall file an official missing person report and enter biographical information into the state missing person computerized network within twelve hours after notification of a missing child is received under RCW 13.32A.050 (1), (3), or (4).

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The superintendent of public instruction shall meet semiannually with the Washington state patrol to develop a coordinated plan for the distribution of information and education of teachers and students in the school districts of the state regarding the missing children problem in the state.  The superintendent of public instruction shall insure that local school districts cooperate by providing the state patrol information on any missing children that may be identified within the district.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     The state patrol shall annually submit a report to the legislature regarding the effectiveness of this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     The department of social and health services and the Washington state patrol shall prepare a report on the cost and impact of additional capacity in crisis residential centers under chapter 13.32A RCW that may be required to house runaway children who are picked up as a result of the efforts of the missing children clearinghouse.  The report shall be submitted to the legislature by December 1, 1985.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     Sections 1 through 4 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 13 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7.     There is appropriated from the general fund to the Washington state patrol for the biennium ending June 30, 1987, the sum of one hundred fifty thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to carry out the purposes of this act.