§ 9-403. Clearinghouse for Missing Children; voluntary fingerprinting programs; advisory council

   (a) Creation; responsibilities. -- There is a State Clearinghouse for Missing Children operated by the Department of 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 regarding information on children who have disappeared from, or are thought to be located in, Maryland.

(b) Publishing information on missing children; list of organizations that provide volunteer resources. -- For children who have disappeared from or are thought to be located in the State, the State Clearinghouse for Missing Children:

   (1) shall publish:

      (i) the names of and relevant available information on missing children; and

      (ii) annual statistics regarding missing children; and

   (2) may establish and maintain a list of organizations and groups that provide volunteer search teams or resources relating to missing children.

(c) Voluntary fingerprinting programs for children. -- The Secretary of State Police may develop, in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies, a plan for voluntary fingerprinting programs for children.

(d) Advisory council. --

   (1) An advisory council shall be appointed having the following responsibilities:

      (i) review of the activities of the State Clearinghouse;

      (ii) review of the training provided for, and investigatory procedures used by, law enforcement personnel in the locating of missing children;

      (iii) examine possible methods for identifying missing children prior to enrollment in a public or nonpublic school; and

      (iv) explore the feasibility and effectiveness of utilizing the Federal Parent Locator Service in locating missing children.

   (2) The advisory council shall consist of the following members:

      (i) 1 person from the Department of Juvenile Services, to be designated by the Secretary of Juvenile Services;

      (ii) 1 person from the Maryland State Department of Education, to be designated by the State Superintendent of Schools;

      (iii) 1 person from the Department of State Police, to be appointed by the Secretary of State Police;

      (iv) the Special Secretary of the Office for Children, Youth, and Families, who shall serve as chairman of the advisory council;

      (v) the President of the Governor's Youth Advisory Council or a designee of the President from the Council;

      (vi) 1 member from the State Sheriff's Association, to be designated by the President of the Association;

      (vii) 1 member from the State Chiefs of Police Association, to be designated by the President of the Association; and

      (viii) 2 members from the public at-large, to be appointed by the Governor.

(e) Term of council members. --

   (1) The term of council members from the public shall be 2 years.

   (2) At the end of a term, a council member from the public shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed.

   (3) Council members from the public may serve successive terms.

HISTORY: 1985, ch. 496; 1987, ch. 290, § 1; 1989, ch. 539, § 7; 1994, ch. 165, § 3; ch. 166, § 3; 1995, ch. 3, § 2; ch. 8, § 4; 2003, ch. 53, § 6; 2004, ch. 25, § 1, 6; 2012, ch. 415.