Bill > H2671

This bill requires the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to develop a comprehensive guide for investigating missing and abducted children in Massachusetts, establishing minimum standards for law enforcement agencies. The guide will draw from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's procedures and be inclusive of various child categories, including those under 10, those under 17, and children with mental and physical limitations. The Municipal Police Training Committee must implement mandatory training for both veteran and new police officers, including a 2-hour in-service program for veteran officers in the 2025 training year. Law enforcement departments must conduct this training at least once every three years. The missing child clearinghouse intake form will be made available in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, Russian, German, Albanian, and Khmer or Cambodian. The bill stipulates that by January 15, 2027, all Massachusetts law enforcement agencies must adopt these new policies and procedures as their minimum protocol for missing children investigations, with the initial implementation taking effect on January 15, 2026.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2671