Other missing persons bills near governor's desk

The interim State-Tribal Relations Committee adopted 12 bills at its final meeting in September. Of those 12, five dealt with reports of missing persons, including Hanna’s Act.

One missing persons bill carried for the committee cleared its final hurdle before Gov. Steve Bullock's desk Friday, passing the Senate 48-1 on third reading. House Bill 54 would require Montana law enforcement to accept reports of missing persons “without delay” and compile a “complete and accurate record of information” for cases that go unsolved after 30 days, including a photograph of the missing person.

The bill also requires law enforcement to enter reports of missing persons under the age of 21 into the FBI’s National Crime Information Center database within two hours. Rep. Rae Peppers, D-Lame Deer, carries both HB 54 and Hanna’s Act.

A third missing persons bill requested by the State-Tribal Relations Committee carried by Sen. Frank Smith, D-Poplar, passed its second House reading Friday, 79-20.

Read more: https://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/other-missing-persons-bills-near-governor-s-desk/article_e390dfb7-a53e-57f6-8945-e6b2c11e5f10.html