Bill > SB6070

This bill enhances the state's ability to support the recovery of missing persons by expanding the circumstances under which law enforcement can use surveillance technology like cell site simulators, which mimic cell towers to locate or intercept data from mobile devices, to aid in finding missing endangered individuals, defined to include missing black persons, indigenous women, or any person in danger due to age, health, mental state, disability, or suicidal ideation. It also clarifies that such technology can be used for "community caretaking functions," which are actions law enforcement takes to assist the public outside of criminal investigations, and provides a non-exclusive list of factors courts can consider when determining probable cause for these functions, such as a history of suicidal ideation or unusual absence from daily activities. The bill also updates the definition of "missing endangered person" to include specific categories like missing black persons and those with disabilities, and expands the types of alerts that can be issued, such as "ebony alert" for missing black persons and "purple alert" for missing persons with disabilities, to be disseminated through various media channels. Furthermore, it shifts the responsibility for maintaining the statewide missing persons website and data transmission to national systems from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs to the Washington State Patrol, and allows the Department of Social and Health Services to disclose public assistance benefit access information to law enforcement to help confirm if a missing person is alive. Finally, it makes certain information obtained during missing endangered person investigations confidential if its disclosure would endanger the person's life, safety, privacy, or property, unless the person consents to disclosure or is consulted.

Budget and Finance, Housing and Urban Affairs, Justice

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=6070&Year=2025&Initiative=false