MS SB2761

Law enforcement agencies must submit credible reports of missing or unidentified persons to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System and submit fingerprints, dental records, DNA information, and other identifying data when available.

Reports of missing children must be entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System without delay upon receipt of the report.

State Medical Examiner must test DNA of unidentified human remains using forensic genetic genealogy testing within 45 days of receiving possession of the remains.

Willfully destroying a body, body part, or unidentified human remains is a felony punishable by a fine up to $5,000 and/or imprisonment up to 2 years; physicians, hospitals, funeral directors, and others possessing unidentified human remains must submit them to the State Medical Examiner and cannot subject them to cremation, embalming, or destructive treatment.

County medical examiners must enter unclaimed human remains cases into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System within 5-15 days from date of death; law enforcement training standards must include at least 2 hours of training on investigation of unidentified and missing persons.