HB 185 -- Abducted Children

Co-Sponsors:  Schneider, Brown, Parker, Moore, Sander, Goodman,
Dixon, Avery

This bill creates a statewide Amber Alert Program for the purpose
of identifying and locating abducted children.  It defines
"abducted children" as children who are under 17 years of age who
are believed to have been kidnapped by someone other than a
family member and who are in immediate danger of serious bodily
harm or death, as determined by law enforcement officials.

The bill requires the Department of Public Safety to establish a
statewide Amber Alert system, to coordinate local law enforcement
agencies and television and radio broadcasters, and to develop
regions for the program.  The department also has the authority
to notify other regions when there is credible evidence that an
abduction is moving across regions.  It requires a state Amber
Alert coordinator to be appointed within the department to
coordinate efforts between federal, state, and local entities.

The bill also creates a statewide Amber Alert Advisory Board.
The presiding officer of the board is the state Amber Alert
coordinator.  Other members of the board include the Attorney
General or the Attorney General's representative, a
representative of law enforcement, a representative of the media,
and one citizen representative from each Amber Alert area.

The currently existing Amber Alert system must become compliant
with the department's program by January 1, 2004.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated July 25, 2003 at 10:11 am