2562

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 496

(B)  "LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY" MEANS A STATE, COUNTY, OR
MUNICIPAL POLICE DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY, OR A SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

(C)  "MISSING CHILD" MEANS A PERSON WHO IS:

(1)  UNDER THE AGE OF 18 YEARS; AND

(2)  THE SUBJECT OF A MISSING PERSONS REPORT FILED
WITH A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN THIS STATE AND WHOSE WHEREABOUTS
ARE UNKNOWN.

9-403. 9-402.

(A)  ON RECEIPT OF A REPORT REGARDING A MISSING CHILD BY A
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SHALL
IMMEDIATELY DETERMINE IF:

(1)  THE MISSING CHILD HAS NOT BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A
PRIOR MISSING PERSONS REPORT;

(2)  THE MISSING CHILD SUFFERS FROM A MENTAL OR
PHYSICAL HANDICAP OR ILLNESS;

(3)  THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE MISSING CHILD IS OF A
SUSPICIOUS OR DANGEROUS NATURE;

(4)  THE PERSON FILING THE REPORT OF A MISSING CHILD
HAS REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE MISSING CHILD MAY HAVE BEEN
ABDUCTED;

(5)  THE MISSING CHILD HAS EVER PREVIOUSLY BEEN THE
SUBJECT OF A CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED UNDER ARTICLE
27, SECTION 35A; AND REPORT FILED WITH THE STATE OR LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY; OR

(6)  THE MISSING CHILD IS UNDER 12 14 YEARS OF AGE.

(B)  UPON CONCLUSION BY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY THAT ANY
ONE OF THE CONDITIONS SPECIFIED IN SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION
EXISTS, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SHALL IMMEDIATELY:

(1)  ENTER ALL NECESSARY AND AVAILABLE INFORMATION
INTO THE MARYLAND INTERAGENCY LAW ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM (MILES) AND
THE NATIONAL CRIME INFORMATION CENTER (NCIC) COMPUTER NETWORKS;

(2)  INSTITUTE APPROPRIATE INTENSIVE SEARCH
PROCEDURES;

(3)  NOTIFY THE NATIONAL MISSING CHILDREN INFORMATION
CENTER AND FORWARD TO THE STATE CLEARINGHOUSE FOR MISSING
CHILDREN A COPY OF THE MISSING PERSONS REPORT INVOLVING THE
MISSING CHILD;

(4)  NOTIFY THE APPROPRIATE LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES AND, TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, OBTAIN ANY INFORMATION THAT
MAY ASSIST IN THE LOCATING OF THE MISSING CHILD; AND