HB1881 Summary

• All law enforcement officers in Arkansas must complete training on investigating unidentified and missing persons as certified by the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training, with practicum training satisfying this requirement.

• Law enforcement agencies must submit missing person and unidentified person cases to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System within 30 days of receiving a report, including fingerprints, dental records, DNA samples, medical imaging, and detailed personal descriptions.

• Law enforcement agencies cannot require waiting periods before accepting or investigating missing person reports and cannot mandate next of kin appear before initiating investigations.

• Upon receipt of a missing child report, law enforcement must immediately enter the child into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System without establishing waiting period policies.

• Law enforcement must report to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System when previously reported missing persons are found or when unidentified persons are identified.