missing; kidnapped children; reporting requirements

Plain English Breakdown

The official text confirms the training frequency change from 'biannually' to 'once every two years', but does not explicitly state this is a correction of an error, only that it changes the schedule.

SB1416: New Rules for Reporting Missing or Kidnapped Children

This law updates how Arizona police agencies must report missing, kidnapped, or runaway children to national databases and the public within specific timeframes, while also changing training schedules.

What This Bill Does

• Requires police to send basic child details like name, age, and physical description to state and national crime networks within two hours of a report.
• Mandates that police share identifying information with media outlets and social media platforms within 24 hours unless it endangers the investigation or safety.
• Prohibits labeling a missing child as a 'runaway' in public reports unless officials decide it is needed for safety or to help an active case.
• Updates training requirements so officers learn about these rules when hired and every two years instead of twice a year.
• Requires police to enter detailed records, including recent photos taken within the last 180 days and medical data if available, into national systems within 30 days.

Who It Names or Affects

• Law enforcement agencies in Arizona
• Police officers who handle missing children cases
• Communication dispatchers at law enforcement agencies

Terms To Know

NCIC

National Crime Information Center, a computer network used by police to share crime data.

NCMEC

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an organization that helps find missing kids.

Seek and Find Alert

A quick alert system used to help find older adults or people with disabilities who are missing.

Limits and Unknowns

• Police do not have to share information on social media if they believe it will hurt the search for the child.
• The law does not specify a date when these rules officially begin, only that they start on the general effective date.

Official Summary Text

SB1416 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

Assigned to
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PASSED BY COW

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session

AMENDED

FACT SHEET FOR
S.B. 1416

missing; kidnapped
children; reporting requirements

Purpose

Restructures and prescribes additional mandatory reporting requirements
for a law enforcement agency (LEA) that receives a report of a missing, kidnapped
or runaway child and requires each LEA to develop and conduct training on those
requirements. Requires LEA employee training regarding the Seek and Find Alert
to be conducted biennially, rather than biannually.

Background

An LEA that receives a report of a missing, kidnapped or runaway child must:
1) within two hours after receiving the report and all necessary and available
information, submit to the Arizona Crime Information Center, National Crime
Information Center (NCIC) computer networks and National Missing and
Unidentified Persons System the name, date of birth, sex, race, height, weight
and eye and hair color of the child, a recent photograph of the child, if
available, the date and location of the last known contact with the child and the
category under which the child is reported missing; 2) no later than 30 days
after the original entry, verify and update the record with any additional
information, including, where available, medical and dental records and a
photograph taken during the previous 180 days; 3) institute or assist with
appropriate search and investigative procedures; 4) maintain a close liaison
with state and local child welfare systems and the National Center for Missing and
Exploited Children (NCMEC) for the exchange of information and technical
assistance in the missing child case; and 5) grant permission to the state's
NCIC Terminal Contractor to update the missing child record in the computer networks
with additional information that is learned during the investigation and
relates to the missing child. An LEA that receives a report of a missing,
kidnapped or runaway child who is in the foster care system must notify the NCMEC
in addition to the outlined entities (
A.R.S.
� 8-901
).

The Seek and Find Alert Notification System is a quick response system
designed to issue and coordinate alerts following the report of a missing person
who has a developmental or cognitive disability, Alzheimer's disease or
dementia or is 65 years old or older (
A.R.S.
� 41-1728
).

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There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state
General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

Mandatory
Reporting Requirements

1.

Bifurcates the two-hour mandatory reporting requirements that an LEA
must complete into:

a)

within
24 hours of receiving a report and all necessary and available information,
submit to NCMEC outlined identifying information, excluding the date and
location of the last known contact with the child; and

b)

within two hours of receiving a report and all necessary and available
information, submit to the Arizona Crime Information Center and NCIC computer
networks outlined identifying information, excluding a recent photograph of the
child, if available.

2.

Stipulates
that the LEA must make reasonable efforts to obtain a recent photograph of the
child.

3.

Requires
an LEA 24 hours after receiving the report to provide to appropriate media
outlets and post on the official social media platforms of the LEA all of the
following information:

a)

a complete physical description of the child;

b)

the last known location of the child;

c)

a description of the clothing the child was last known to be wearing;

d)

current photographs of the child if available; and

e)

the LEA telephone number.

4.

Prohibits
the information provided to media outlets and posted on social media platforms
from characterizing the child as a runaway unless the LEA determines that the
characterization is necessary to protect the child's safety or further an
active investigation.

5.

Instructs
the LEA to document all decision regarding the provision of outlined
information to media outlets and social media platforms in accordance with the
LEA's documentation policies.

6.

Exempts
an LEA from the requirement to provide to media outlets and post on social
media platforms outlined information, if the LEA determines that the
information would interfere with locating a child or would compromise the
safety of a child, an ongoing investigation or the apprehension of a suspect.

7.

Requires
an LEA within 30 days after receiving the report to enter into the National
Missing and Unidentified Persons System all required and available information,
including a photograph of the child that was taken in the previous 180 days and
medical and dental records, if available.

8.

Requires
each LEA in the state to:

a)

develop, implement and regularly update training criteria regarding the mandatory
reporting requirements; and

b)

conduct training, at the time of hire and once every two years, on the mandatory
reporting requirements for all LEA employees who have direct involvement in
missing children cases, including the supervisors of these employees and
communication dispatchers.

9.

Specifies
that the training on the mandatory reporting requirements must:

a)

include a review of any department and state policies regarding locating
missing or abducted children; and

b)

be comprehensive and create a solid foundation of knowledge regarding
the legal criteria and required processes.

Miscellaneous

10.

Requires
the training for specified LEA employees on the Seek and Find Alert
Notification System to be conducted at the time of hire and once every two
years, rather than biannually.

11.

Makes
technical and conforming changes.

12.

Becomes
effective on the general effective date.

Amendments Adopted by
Committee

1.

Adds runaway children back into the mandatory reporting requirements for
a missing, kidnapped or runaway child.

2.

Modifies the requirement to submit a recent photo of the child to NCMEC
to:

a)

submit
within 24 hours, rather than 2 hours, of receiving a report; and

b)

include
additional identifying information.

3.

Add the requirement that an LEA within 30 days of receiving a report
must enter into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System all
required and available information, as specified.

4.

Revises the 24-hour requirement to provide media outlets and social
media platforms with outlined information to:

a)

provide
the information to appropriate, rather than all local, media outlets and post
on the LEA's official social media platform; and

b)

exclude
any information regarding the child's abductor, a description of any vehicle
that may be involved with the child's disappearance and information regarding
any offered rewards.

5.

Prohibits information provided to media outlets and posted on social
media platforms from characterizing the child as a runaway, except as
specified.

6.

Adds an exemption from the requirement to provide to media outlets and
post on social media platforms under specified conditions.

7.

Instructs the LEA to document all decision regarding the provision of
outlined information to media outlets and social media platforms.

8.

Makes technical and conforming changes.

Amendments Adopted by
Committee of the Whole

1.

Requires
each LEA to conduct training biennially, rather than biannually, regarding:

a)

the
mandatory reporting requirements for a missing, kidnapped or runaway child; and

b)

the
Seek and Find Alert Notification System.

2.

Specifics that an LEA must document all decisions regarding the
provision of outlined information to media outlets and social media platforms
in accordance with the agency's documentation policies.

3.

Makes technical changes.

Senate Action

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Prepared by Senate Research

March 3, 2026

KJA/hk

Current Bill Text

Chapter 0174 - 572R - S Ver of SB1416

Senate Engrossed

missing; kidnapped
children; reporting requirements

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

CHAPTER 174

SENATE BILL 1416

AN
ACT

amending sections 8-901 and 41-1728,
arizona revised statutes; relating to missing children reporting.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 8-901, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
8-901.

Missing, kidnapped or runaway children; mandatory reporting;
training

A. A law enforcement agency that receives a report
of a missing, kidnapped or runaway child shall do all of the following:

1. Within two hours after receiving the report and
all necessary and available information, submit
all of
the
following information to the Arizona crime information center
,

and
the national crime information center computer
networks
and the national missing and unidentified persons system
:

(a) The name, date of birth, sex, race, height,
weight and eye and hair color of the child.

(b) A recent photograph of the child,
if available.

(c)

(
b
)
The date and location of the last known contact
with the child.

(d)

(
c
)
The category under which the child is reported
missing.

2. Within
twenty-four
hours after receiving the report and all necessary and available information,
submit to the national center for missing and exploited children
all of the following information:

(
a
) A recent
photograph of the child, if available. The law enforcement agency
shall make reasonable efforts to obtain a recent photograph of the child.

(
b
) The name,
date of birth, sex, race, height, weight and eye and hair color of the child.

(
c
) The
category under which the child is reported missing.

3. Within
twenty-four
hours after receiving the report,
provide to appropriate
media outlets and post on the official social media platforms of the law
enforcement agency all of the following information:

(
a
) A complete
physical description of the child.

(
b
) The last
known location of the child.

(
c
) A
description of the clothing the child was last known to be wearing.

(
d
) Current
photographs of the child if available.

(
e
) The law
enforcement agency telephone number.

4. Within thirty days after receiving
the report, enter in the national missing and unidentified persons system all
required and available information, including, if available, a photograph of
the child THAT was taken in the previous one hundred eighty days and medical
and dental records.

2.

5.
Not later than thirty days after the original
entry of the record, verify and update the record with any additional
information, including,
where

if

available, medical and dental records and a photograph taken during the
previous one hundred eighty days.

3.

6.
Institute or assist with appropriate search and
investigative procedures.

4.

7.
Maintain
a close liaison with state and local child welfare systems and the national
center for missing and exploited children for the exchange of information and
technical assistance in the missing child case.

5.

8.
Grant
permission to the national crime information center terminal contractor for
this state to update the missing child record in the national crime information
center computer networks with additional information that is learned during the
investigation and that relates to the missing child.

B. A law enforcement agency that
receives a report of a missing, kidnapped or runaway child who is in the foster
care system shall notify the national center for missing and exploited children
in addition to the entities listed in subsection A of this section.

C.

B.
An
entry may not be removed from any database or system until the child is found
or the case is closed.

c. Each law enforcement agency in
this state shall do both of the following:

1. Develop, implement and regularly
update training criteria regarding the requirements of this
section. the training shall be comprehensive and shall create a
solid foundation of knowledge regarding the legal criteria and processes
required by this section.

2. Conduct training on the provisions
of this section for all employees of the law enforcement agency, at the time of
hire and once every two years, who have direct involvement in missing children
cases, including the supervisors of these employees and communication
dispatchers. The training shall include a review of any department
and state policies regarding locating missing or abducted
children. The training shall be comprehensive and shall create a
solid foundation of knowledge regarding the legal criteria and processes
required by this section.

D. Information provided to
APPROPRIATE media outlets and posted on official law enforcement social media
platforms pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 3 of this section may not
characterize a child as a runaway child unless the law enforcement agency
determines that the characterization of the
child as a
runaway child is necessary to protect the child's safety or further an active
investigation. A law enforcement agency is not required to provide
the information required by subsection A, paragraph 3 of this section if the
law enforcement agency determines that the information would interfere with
locating a child or would compromise the safety of a child, an ongoing
investigation or the apprehension of a suspect. A law enforcement
agency shall document in accordance WITH the law enforcement agency's
documentation policies
all decisions regarding the
provision of the information required by subsection A, paragraph 3 of this
section.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Section 41-1728, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
41-1728.

Seek and find alert notification system; requirements; definitions

A. The department shall establish the seek and find
alert notification system as a quick response system designed to issue and
coordinate alerts following the report of a missing person who has a
developmental disability or a cognitive disability, Alzheimer's disease or
dementia or is sixty-five years of age or older as described in
subsection B of this section.

B. On the request of an authorized person at a law
enforcement agency that is investigating a report of a missing person who has a
developmental disability or a cognitive disability, Alzheimer's disease or
dementia or is sixty-five years of age or older, the department shall request
an activation of the emergency alert system and issue a seek and find alert immediately,
regardless of the missing person's age, if all of the following conditions are
met:

1. The missing person has a developmental disability
or a cognitive disability, Alzheimer's disease or dementia or is sixty-five
years of age or older.

2. The law enforcement agency investigating the
missing person report:

(a) Has used all available local resources.

(b) Has determined that the person has gone missing
under unexplained or suspicious circumstances.

(c) Believes that the missing person is in danger
because of age, health, mental or physical disability, environment or weather
conditions, that the missing person is in the company of a potentially
dangerous person or that there are other factors indicating that the missing
person may be in peril.

3. There is information available that, if
disseminated to the public, could assist in the safe recovery of the missing
person.

4. The department has been designated to use the
federally authorized emergency alert system for the issuance of seek and find
alerts.

C. The department shall request an activation of the
emergency alert system and issue a seek and find alert immediately

pursuant to subsection B of this section. A
seek and find alert may not be denied or delayed due to administrative
processes, prior missing episodes or discretionary assessments that are
unrelated to the immediate risk to the missing person's safety.

D. If the department issues a seek and find alert
pursuant to this section, the department shall provide the seek and find alert
information to any other entity that provides similar notifications in this
state.

E. All law enforcement agencies in this state shall
do all of the following:

1. Develop, implement and regularly update training
criteria regarding the seek and find alert notification system pursuant to this
section. The training shall be comprehensive and shall create a
solid foundation of knowledge regarding the legal criteria and processes
involved in issuing a timely seek and find alert.

2. Conduct seek and find alert notification training
for all employees of a law enforcement agency, at the time of hire and
biannually

once every
two years
, who have direct involvement in missing person cases,
including the supervisors of these employees and communication
dispatchers. The training shall include a review of any department
and state policies regarding locating missing, abducted or runaway persons, with
a specific focus on seek and find alert procedures. The training
shall be comprehensive and shall create a solid foundation of knowledge
regarding the legal criteria and processes involved in issuing a timely seek
and find alert.

F. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Cognitive disability" has the same
meaning prescribed in section 36-551.

2. "Developmental disability" has the same
meaning prescribed in section 36-551.
END_STATUTE

APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR JUNE 19, 2026.

FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE JUNE 22, 2026.