PRINTER'S NO. 454
No. 439 Session of 1989
INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, BELL, STAPLETON, ANDREZESKI, GREENWOOD,
MELLOW, REIBMAN, SALVATORE, DAWIDA AND JONES,
FEBRUARY 6, 1989
REFERRED TO AGING AND YOUTH, FEBRUARY 6, 1989
AN ACT
1 Establishing a Missing Children Information Clearinghouse;
2 providing for powers and duties of the clearinghouse;
3 establishing the Missing Children Clearinghouse Advisory
4 Board; providing for powers and duties of the advisory board;
5 and making an appropriation.
6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 hereby enacts as follows:
8 Section 1. Short title.
9 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Missing
10 Children Act.
11 Section 2. Definitions.
12 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
13 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
14 context clearly indicates otherwise:
15 "Board." The Missing Children Clearinghouse Advisory Board.
16 "Child." A person under 18 years of age.
17 "Child sexual abuse or exploitation." Harm to a child's
18 health or welfare by any person, whether or not that person is
19 responsible for the child's health and welfare.
1 "CLEAN." Commonwealth Law Enforcement Assistance Center.
2 "Clearinghouse." The Missing Children Information
3 Clearinghouse.
4 "Department." The Department of Public Welfare of the
5 Commonwealth.
6 "Prevention program." A system of direct provision of child
7 sexual abuse and exploitation prevention services to a child,
8 parent or guardian.
9 "State Police." The Pennsylvania State Police.
10 Section 3. Missing Children Information Clearinghouse
11 established.
12 There is hereby established within the Pennsylvania State
13 Police the Missing Children Information Clearinghouse.
14 Section 4. Powers and duties of clearinghouse.
15 The powers and duties of the clearinghouse shall include:
16 (1) Use of the CLEAN system for the development,
17 collection and maintenance of a central uniform informational
18 repository on children reported missing within this
19 Commonwealth, to include:
20 (i) Compilation of the relevant information
21 regarding a missing child.
22 (ii) Correlation of material.
23 (iii) Extrapolation of material for investigative
24 use.
25 (iv) Development of a feedback system for the return
26 of data to the submitting agency.
27 (2) The reporting of all reports of missing children to
28 the National Crime Information Center (NCIC).
29 (3) Cooperation with Federal, State and local agencies,
30 other states, the board and volunteer organizations in the
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1 dissemination of information regarding missing children, the
2 investigation of missing children cases and other programs
3 and activities.
4 (4) The development of special training courses for
5 criminal justice professionals, medical professionals and
6 other youth service professionals.
7 (5) Cooperation with the board in the development of
8 educational and informational programs.
9 (6) Encouragement and advice regarding the development
10 of local task forces on missing children.
11 (7) Compilation of statistics on the number of missing
12 children and submission of the compilation along with an
13 annual report, in conjunction with the board, to the General
14 Assembly. The report shall address the activities of the
15 board and the clearinghouse for the previous year and include
16 plans for future activities.
17 Section 5. Missing Children Clearinghouse Advisory Board
18 established.
19 (a) Members.--There is hereby established a Missing Children
20 Clearinghouse Advisory Board consisting of nine persons,
21 including:
22 (1) The Secretary of Public Welfare, or his designee.
23 (2) The Commissioner of the State Police, or his
24 designee.
25 (3) The Secretary of Education, or his designee.
26 (4) Two local law enforcement officials to be appointed
27 by the Governor.
28 (5) Four citizen members to be appointed by the Governor
29 who shall represent, as far as is feasible, the various
30 geographical areas within this Commonwealth.
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1 (b) Terms of members.--Members shall be appointed to
2 staggered terms of one to three years.
3 (c) Election of chairman and officers; appointment of
4 executive director.--The board shall provide for its
5 organization and procedure, including the selection of a
6 chairman and such officers as are deemed necessary. The board
7 shall appoint a full-time executive director.
8 (d) Reimbursement.--The members shall receive no
9 compensation for services on the board but shall be reimbursed
10 for any ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in the
11 performance of their duties.
12 Section 6. Powers and duties of board.
13 The powers and duties of the board shall include:
14 (1) Coordination of activities related to the
15 clearinghouse with the State Police, to include operation of
16 the clearinghouse and the exchange of information.
17 (2) Establishment, in cooperation with the State Police,
18 of a toll-free number, with direct contact to the
19 clearinghouse, for use in accepting citizen reports or
20 sightings of missing children within this Commonwealth.
21 (3) The use of Commonwealth resources to duplicate
22 photographs and posters of missing children.
23 (4) Development of a Statewide media access to allow the
24 dissemination of photographs throughout this Commonwealth.
25 (5) The holding of meetings on a quarterly basis.
26 (6) Development of education and prevention programs for
27 organizational, school and community use.
28 (7) Providing Statewide educational and public
29 informational seminars to develop public awareness of missing
30 children and child sexual abuse and exploitation.
19890S0439B0454 - 4 -
1 Section 7. Appropriation.
2 The sum of $50,000, or as much thereof as may be necessary,
3 is hereby appropriated to the Missing Children Information
4 Clearinghouse to carry out the provisions of this act.
5 Section 8. Effective date.
6 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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