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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
missing; kidnapped children; reporting requirements
Purpose
Restructures and prescribes additional mandatory reporting requirements for a law enforcement agency (LEA) that receives a report of a missing, kidnapped or runaway child and requires each LEA to develop and conduct training on those requirements. Requires LEA employee training regarding the Seek and Find Alert to be conducted biennially, rather than biannually.
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, National Crime Information Center (NCIC) computer networks and 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, 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 state's NCIC Terminal Contractor to update the missing child record in the computer networks with additional information that is learned during the investigation and 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).
The Seek and Find Alert Notification System is a quick response system designed to issue and coordinate alerts following the report of a missing person who has a developmental or cognitive disability, Alzheimer's disease or dementia or is 65 years old or older (A.R.S. § 41-1728).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
Mandatory Reporting Requirements
1. Bifurcates the two-hour mandatory reporting requirements that an LEA must complete into:
a) within 24 hours of receiving a report and all necessary and available information, submit to NCMEC outlined identifying information, excluding the date and location of the last known contact with the child; and
b) within two hours of receiving a report and all necessary and available information, submit to the Arizona Crime Information Center and NCIC computer networks outlined identifying information, excluding a recent photograph of the child, if available.
2. Stipulates that the LEA must make reasonable efforts to obtain a recent photograph of the child.
3. Requires an LEA 24 hours after receiving the report to provide to appropriate media outlets and post on the official social media platforms of the LEA all of the following information:
a) a complete physical description of the child;
b) the last known location of the child;
c) a description of the clothing the child was last known to be wearing;
d) current photographs of the child if available; and
e) the LEA telephone number.
4. Prohibits the information provided to media outlets and posted on social media platforms from characterizing the child as a runaway unless the LEA determines that the characterization is necessary to protect the child's safety or further an active investigation.
5. Instructs the LEA to document all decision regarding the provision of outlined information to media outlets and social media platforms in accordance with the LEA's documentation policies.
6. Exempts an LEA from the requirement to provide to media outlets and post on social media platforms outlined information, if the LEA determines that the information would interfere with locating a child or would compromise the safety of a child, an ongoing investigation or the apprehension of a suspect.
7. Requires an LEA within 30 days after receiving the report to enter into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System all required and available information, including a photograph of the child that was taken in the previous 180 days and medical and dental records, if available.
8. Requires each LEA in the state to:
a) develop, implement and regularly update training criteria regarding the mandatory reporting requirements; and
b) conduct training, at the time of hire and once every two years, on the mandatory reporting requirements for all LEA employees who have direct involvement in missing children cases, including the supervisors of these employees and communication dispatchers.
9. Specifies that the training on the mandatory reporting requirements 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.
Miscellaneous
10. Requires the training for specified LEA employees on the Seek and Find Alert Notification System to be conducted at the time of hire and once every two years, rather than biannually.
11. Makes technical and conforming changes.
12. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Adds runaway children back into the mandatory reporting requirements for a missing, kidnapped or runaway child.
2. Modifies the requirement to submit a recent photo of the child to NCMEC to:
a) submit within 24 hours, rather than 2 hours, of receiving a report; and
b) include additional identifying information.
3. Add the requirement that an LEA within 30 days of receiving a report must enter into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System all required and available information, as specified.
4. Revises the 24-hour requirement to provide media outlets and social media platforms with outlined information to:
a) provide the information to appropriate, rather than all local, media outlets and post on the LEA's official social media platform; and
b) exclude any information regarding the child's abductor, a description of any vehicle that may be involved with the child's disappearance and information regarding any offered rewards.
5. Prohibits information provided to media outlets and posted on social media platforms from characterizing the child as a runaway, except as specified.
6. Adds an exemption from the requirement to provide to media outlets and post on social media platforms under specified conditions.
7. Instructs the LEA to document all decision regarding the provision of outlined information to media outlets and social media platforms.
8. Makes technical and conforming changes.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Requires each LEA to conduct training biennially, rather than biannually, regarding:
a) the mandatory reporting requirements for a missing, kidnapped or runaway child; and
b) the Seek and Find Alert Notification System.
2. Specifics that an LEA must document all decisions regarding the provision of outlined information to media outlets and social media platforms in accordance with the agency's documentation policies.
3. Makes technical changes.
Senate Action
PS 2/18/26 DPA 7-0-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 3, 2026
KJA/hk