Relating to duties and procedures and to training programs for law enforcement agencies regarding missing children and missing persons.
Impact
The legislation amends various articles in the Code of Criminal Procedure concerning missing persons. It mandates immediate investigations within two hours upon receiving a report of a missing child or person, with specific procedures for cases that involve children at high risk of harm. Local law enforcement must also electronically submit reports to neighboring agencies, thereby facilitating a more collaborative approach to locating missing individuals.
Summary
House Bill 2660, colloquially known as Tim's Law, seeks to enhance the procedures and duties of law enforcement agencies concerning missing children and missing persons. Prompted by a tragic incident involving a missing child, the bill establishes clear protocols for local law enforcement when receiving reports about missing individuals, ensuring timely investigations, and the prompt sharing of information with relevant agencies. These changes aim to improve response times and coordination among law enforcement agencies to locate missing persons efficiently.
Sentiment
The overall sentiment surrounding HB 2660 is largely supportive, as it garners endorsements from various law enforcement organizations. Testimonials from representatives of the Dallas Police Association and the Texas Municipal Police Association highlight the necessity of this legislation to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The support indicates a consensus on the importance of improving protocols related to missing persons within law enforcement, despite the emotional weight surrounding the reasons for its introduction.
Contention
While the bill received broad support, discussions conveyed that the urgency of the procedures could place additional strain on law enforcement resources, particularly in smaller jurisdictions facing personnel limitations. Nonetheless, the proactive measures proposed in HB 2660 are seen as critical steps toward safeguarding vulnerable populations, notably children, amidst rising concerns about child safety and trafficking.
Establishes a missing persons unit within the division of state police; adds women to the responsibility of the missing and exploited children clearinghouse; provides that by January first, two-thousand twenty-seven included in the curriculum for the training of law enforcement shall be missing and exploited women and missing and exploited women and children of color and indigenous descent; requires the reporting duties of law enforcement departments to include missing women, in addition to missing children and vulnerable adults; relates to the missing and exploited women and children clearinghouse fund; relates to the gift for missing and exploited women and children clearinghouse fund.
Conditions in which a missing person may be considered to be endangered specified, commissioner of public safety required to establish policies and protocols for issuing alerts to the public regarding missing and endangered persons, and Public and Local Alert Advisory Board established.
Enacts "Destini Smothers' law"; requires collaboration between law enforcement agencies in missing persons investigations; provides support for relatives of such missing persons.