HARRY HUGHES, Governor

2561

Preamble
The General Assembly finds that:

(1) This State has a duty to locate and protect
children who are reported missing;

(2) The number of missing children has increased, and
this problem requires a statewide system for exchanging
information, a central repository for information on missing
children, and special training for law enforcement personnel;

(3) The first 24 to 48 hours after a child is
reported missing are crucial, and law enforcement agencies
responsible for investigating reports of missing children should
establish procedures to begin an investigation as soon as a
report is received; and

(4) Children, parents, educators, and others should
be educated about child protection; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Family Law

9-401.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS THAT:

(1) THIS STATE HAS A DUTY TO LOCATE AND PROTECT
CHILDREN WHO ARE REPORTED MISSING;

(2) THE NUMBER OF MISSING CHILDREN HAS INCREASED, AND

THIS PROBLEM REQUIRES A STATEWIDE SYSTEM FOR EXCHANGING

INFORMATION, A CENTRAL REPOSITORY FOR INFORMATION ON MISSING
CHILDREN, AND SPECIAL TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL;

(3) THE FIRST 24 TO 48 HOURS AFTER A CHILD IS
REPORTED MISSING ARE CRUCIAL, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
RESPONSIBLE FOR INVESTIGATING REPORTS OF MISSING CHILDREN SHOULD
ESTABLISH PROCEDURES TO BEGIN AN INVESTIGATION AS SOON AS A
REPORT IS RECEIVED; AND

(4) CHILDREN, PARENTS, EDUCATORS, AND OTHERS SHOULD
BE EDUCATED ABOUT CHILD PROTECTION.

9-402. 9-401.

(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS
INDICATED.