SB 186 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MISSING PERSONS.

Summary

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an estimated 800,000 children are reported missing each year. This Act revises this State’s missing children laws to improve search efforts, increase collaboration between law enforcement agencies, and increase public information about missing children. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

Bill Text

• Bill Text View text Current pdf

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends Delaware law regarding missing persons, particularly focusing on procedures and communications related to unemancipated minors and missing children.

• § 8535

  the law-enforcement agency shall comply with § 8544 of this title. → the law enforcement agency preparing the report under § 8533 of this title shall comply with § 8544 of this title.

  Clarifies the responsibility of law enforcement agencies regarding compliance with reporting requirements.

• § 8535

  may not prevent an immediate active investigation on the basis of any agency rule which based on an agency rule that specifies an automatic time limitation for a missing person investigation. → shall not prevent an immediate active investigation on the basis of any agency rule that specifies an automatic time limitation for a missing person investigation.

  Strengthens the requirement for law enforcement to conduct immediate investigations without delay from agency rules.

• § 8543

  The Clearinghouse shall: shall do all of the following: → The Clearinghouse shall do all of the following:

  Removes repetitive language for clarity.

• § 8543

  and law-enforcement agencies; agencies. → and law-enforcement agencies.

  Removes repetitive language for clarity.

• § 8544

  Every constable, chief police officer, officer in charge, member of the State Police and other law-enforcement agency agency, → Every constable, chief police officer, officer in charge, member of the State Police and other law-enforcement agency,

  Fixes a duplication in the list of law enforcement agency roles.

• § 8544

  immediately Immediately accept and act upon on information → immediately accept and act upon information

  Corrects the capitalization issue and removes redundancy.

• § 8544

  so far as available, on a missing child report concerning a missing child within 24 hours after receipt thereof. of the information. → on a missing child report concerning a missing child within 24 hours after receipt thereof.

  Clarifies reporting requirements and removes unnecessary wording.

• § 8544

  Notify the Delaware Information Analysis Center (DIAC) who shall assist the investigating law-enforcement agency in regard to the search and location of the missing child. (“DIAC”). At the request of the law-enforcement agency, DIAC shall assist by providing intelligence and disseminating information on the missing child to the appropriate law-enforcement partners. → Notify the Delaware Information Analysis Center (DIAC) who shall assist the investigating law-enforcement agency in regard to the search and location of the missing child. At the request of the law-enforcement agency, DIAC shall assist by providing intelligence and disseminating information on the missing child to the appropriate law-enforcement partners.

  Reduces redundancy in naming the DIAC and improves the flow of the text.

• § 8544

  and legal custodian may submit a missing child report to a local law-enforcement agency having jurisdiction for investigation and referral of the missing child report → and legal custodian may submit a missing child report to a local law-enforcement agency having jurisdiction for investigation and referral of the missing child report to the Clearinghouse

  Clarifies the process for submitting missing child reports to law enforcement.

• § 8544

  and the report must be included in the Clearinghouse data base. → and the report must be included in the Clearinghouse database.

  Corrects the spelling of 'database' for consistency.

• § 8544

  shall must be returned to the person providing them upon the fingerprints on location of a the missing child. → must be returned to the person providing them upon the location of the missing child.

  Improves clarity regarding the return of fingerprints.

• § 8544

  adopt rules and regulations for the utilization of the DIAC to assist investigative law-enforcement agencies during their investigation as a resource for the receipt, analysis analysis, and dissemination of information to those entities that have a need and right to know about the missing child. → adopt rules and regulations for the utilization of the DIAC to assist investigative law-enforcement agencies during their investigation as a resource for the receipt, analysis, and dissemination of information to those entities that have a need and right to know about the missing child.

  Removes duplicated wording for clarity.

Action History

1. June 15, 2021

   Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate

Sponsors

• Darius J. Brown · Primary
• Stephanie T. Bolden · Primary
• Brian Pettyjohn · Cosponsor
• David P. Sokola · Cosponsor
• John "Jack" Walsh · Cosponsor
• Kendra Johnson · Cosponsor
• Bruce C. Ennis · Cosponsor

Subjects