PRINTER'S NO. 1214
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
962
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY DINNIMAN, AUGUST 25, 2015
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, AUGUST 25, 2015
AN ACT
Providing for reports on missing or abducted children and child
sex trafficking victims.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Missing and
Abducted Children Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Child." An individual who is under 21 years of age and who
meets one of the following:
(1) The county agency is conducting an assessment of the
need for services for the individual.
(2) The county agency is conducting an investigation of
suspected child abuse of the individual under 23 Pa.C.S. Ch.
63 (relating to child protective services).
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(3) The county agency is providing services to the
individual.
"County agency." The county children and youth social
service agency established in accordance with section 405 of the
act of June 24, 1937 (P.L.2017, No.396), known as the County
Institution District Law, or its successor, and supervised by
the department under Article IX of the act of June 13, 1967
(P.L.31, No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code.
"Department." The Department of Human Services of the
Commonwealth.
"Law enforcement." Any of the following:
(1) A Pennsylvania State Police officer.
(2) A municipal police officer.
Section 3. County responsibilities.
(a) Child victims of sex trafficking.--The following shall
apply:
(1) A county agency shall report to law enforcement
immediately upon discovery, and in no case later than 24
hours after discovery, a child who:
(i) the county agency has reasonable cause to
suspect of being at risk of being a sex trafficking
victim; or
(ii) the county agency identifies as being a sex
trafficking victim.
(2) The county agency shall report annually to the
department the total number of children who are identified as
sex trafficking victims. The report shall be submitted in the
form and by the deadline prescribed by the department.
(b) Missing or abducted children.--A county agency shall
report to law enforcement and the National Center for Missing
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and Exploited Children, immediately upon discovery, and in no
case later than 24 hours after discovery, a child who is missing
or abducted.
Section 4. Law enforcement responsibilities.
When law enforcement receives a report under section 3(b),
law enforcement shall enter the missing or abducted child
information into the National Crime Information Center database.
Section 5. Effective date.
This act shall take effect September 29, 2015.
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