HARRY HUGHES, Governor

2563

(5) ENLIST THE AID OF THE STATE POLICE, WHEN
APPROPRIATE, IN LOCATING THE MISSING CHILD.

(C)  IF THE CONDITIONS SPECIFIED IN SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS
SECTION DO NOT EXIST, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SHALL:

(1)  IMMEDIATELY SEEK TO DETERMINE THE CIRCUMSTANCES
SURROUNDING THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE MISSING CHILD; AND

(2)  IMPLEMENT THE PROCEDURES SET FORTH IN SUBSECTION
(B) OF THIS SECTION WITHIN 12 HOURS OF THE FILING OF A REPORT
REGARDING A MISSING CHILD, IF THE MISSING CHILD HAS NOT BEEN
LOCATED.

(D)  NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY,
IF A MISSING CHILD HAS NOT BEEN LOCATED WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THE
FILING OF A MISSING PERSONS REPORT AND EITHER THE LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR THE STATE POLICE HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE
THAT THE MISSING CHILD MAY BE LOCATED IN A JURISDICTION OTHER
THAN THE JURISDICTION WHERE THE MISSING PERSONS REPORT WAS FILED,
THE MARYLAND STATE POLICE SHALL ENTER THE INVESTIGATION AND, IN
COOPERATION WITH THE APPROPRIATE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES,
COORDINATE ASSIST STATE AND NATIONAL EFFORTS TO LOCATE THE
MISSING CHILD.

(E) (1) A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY MAY NOT ESTABLISH A
MANDATORY WAITING PERIOD BEFORE BEGINNING AN INVESTIGATION TO
LOCATE A MISSING CHILD.

(2) A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY MAY NOT ADOPT RULES,
REGULATIONS, OR POLICIES THAT PROHIBIT OR DISCOURAGE THE FILING
OF A REPORT OR THE TAKING OF ANY ACTION ON A REPORT THAT A CHILD
IS A MISSING CHILD OR THAT A CHILD IS BELIEVED TO BE A MISSING
CHILD.

(F)  EVERY PERSON FILING A REPORT OF A MISSING CHILD SHALL
BE REQUIRED TO NOTIFY THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND THE
STATE POLICE IMMEDIATELY UPON THE LOCATING OF THE MISSING CHILD
IF IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR THE
STATE POLICE HAVE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE MISSING CHILD HAS BEEN
LOCATED.

9-404. 9-403.

(A) THE STATE POLICE SHALL ESTABLISH THERE IS A STATE
CLEARINGHOUSE FOR MISSING CHILDREN TO BE OPERATED BY THE STATE
POLICE THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR:

(1)  THE RECEIPT, COLLECTION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF
GENERAL INFORMATION AND ANNUAL STATISTICS REGARDING MISSING
CHILDREN; AND

(2)  COORDINATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND
OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS OR GROUPS WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE STATE