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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
missing; kidnapped children; reporting requirements
Purpose
Modifies the notification and reporting requirements for law enforcement agencies (LEAs) that receives a report of a missing or kidnapped child and requires LEAs to develop and conduct regular trainings on those requirements.
Background
An LEA that receives a report of a missing, kidnapped or runaway child must: 1) within two hours after receiving the report and all necessary and available information, submit to the Arizona Crime Information Center, the National Crime Information Center Computer Networks and the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System the name, date of birth, sex, race, height, weight and eye and hair color of the child, a recent photograph of the child, if available, the date and location of the last known contact with the child and the category under which the child is reported missing; 2) no later than 30 days after the original entry of the record, verify and update the record with any additional information, including, where available, medical and dental records and a photograph taken during the previous 180 days; 3) institute or assist with appropriate search and investigative procedures; 4) maintain a close liaison with state and local child welfare systems and the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) for the exchange of information and technical assistance in the missing child case; and 5) grant permission to the national crime information center terminal contractor for this state to update the missing child record in the national crime information center computer networks with additional information that is learned during the investigation and that relates to the missing child.
An LEA that receives a report of a missing, kidnapped or runaway child who is in the foster care system must notify the NCMEC in addition to the outlined entities (A.R.S. § 8-901).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires an LEA to complete the prescribed requirements after receiving a report of a missing or kidnapped child, rather than a missing, kidnapped or runaway child.
2. Requires the LEA to submit identifying information to the NCMEC rather than the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.
3. Requires an LEA that receives a report to of a missing or kidnapped child to within two hours after receiving the report and all necessary and available information, submit to the NCMEC a recent photograph of the child.
4. Stipulates that an LEA must make reasonable efforts to obtain a recent photograph of the child.
5. Requires an LEA that receives a report to of a missing or kidnapped child to within 24 hours after receiving the report, provide to all local media outlets and post to social media platforms with:
a) all of the following information regarding the child and, if known, the child's abductor:
i. a complete physical description of the child and, if known, the child's abductor;
ii. the last known location of the child or, if known, the child's abductor;
iii. a description of the clothing the child or, if known, the child's abductor was last known to be wearing;
iv. a description of any vehicle that may be involved with the child's disappearance; and
v. current photographs of the child and, if available, the child's abductor;
b) the LEA telephone number; and
c) information regarding any offered rewards.
6. Removes, from the identifying information that an LEA must submit to outlined entities, a recent photograph of the child, if available.
7. Removes the requirement that an LEA that receives a report of a missing, kidnapped or runaway child who is in the foster care system to notify the NCMEC in addition to the outlined entities.
8. Requires each LEA in the state to:
a) develop, implement and regularly update training criteria regarding the prescribed notification and reporting requirements; and
b) conduct training on the prescribed notification and reporting requirements for all LEA employees, at the time of hire and biannually, who have direct involvement in missing children cases, including the supervisors of these employees and communication dispatchers.
9. Specifies that the training must:
a) include a review of any department and state policies regarding locating missing or abducted children; and
b) be comprehensive and create a solid foundation of knowledge regarding the legal criteria and required processes.
10. Makes technical and conforming changes.
11. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 2, 2026
KJA/hk