Senate Bill 645 Summary

• Permits State Bureau of Investigation agents, with supervisor permission, to install and use pen registers or trap and trace devices without a court order in emergency situations involving immediate danger of death or serious bodily injury.

• Allows emergency warrantless use for missing person cases (disappearances, runaway children) where no criminal charge is readily apparent but the individual faces imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury.

• Requires SBI agents to obtain a court order within 48 hours of emergency installation or the device use must immediately terminate, whichever first occurs.

• Defines pen registers and trap and trace devices to include location data capabilities and modifies court order requirements to include either criminal investigations or emergency situations involving missing persons at risk.

• Becomes effective December 1, 2021, and applies to installations on or after that date; violations are Class 1 misdemeanors.