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SB289 • 2026
AN ACT relating to missing children.
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
AN ACT relating to missing children.
received in House to Committee on Committees (H)
3rd reading, passed 35-0
2nd reading, to Rules posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Monday, March 16 2026
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
to Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection (S)
introduced in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)
AN ACT relating to missing children.
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 289/GA Page 1 of 2 SB028910.100 - 1715 - XXXX 3/16/2026 3:31 PM GA AN ACT relating to missing children. 1 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2 Section 1. KRS 16.175 is amended to read as follows: 3 (1) The Department of Kentucky State Police, in cooperation with the Transportation 4 Cabinet, the Division of Emergency Management, and media providers [the 5 Kentucky Broadcasters Association, and the Kentucky Press Association] , shall 6 operate a system to notify the public when a child has been abducted or identified 7 by law enforcement as missing, and the department determines that public 8 notification might aid in the recovery of the child. The system shall be known as the 9 Kentucky Amber alert system. 10 (2) The system shall utilize existing resources, including but not limited to electronic 11 highway signs, the emergency broadcast system, law enforcement communications 12 systems, and local, regional, and statewide media providers , as authorized and 13 under conditions permitted by the federal government. 14 (3) A[No] public alert using the system shall not be issued unless the department, in 15 consultation with the law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where the child 16 was abducted or reported missing[in which the abduction of a minor occurred], has 17 determined: 18 (a) That the: 19 1. Child[minor] has [actually ]been abducted or that all available evidence 20 strongly indicates that the child[minor] has been abducted; 21 2. Disappearance of the child may not have been voluntary and the 22 physical safety of the child may be endangered; or 23 3. Child is committed to the Depar tment of Juvenile Justice or in the 24 temporary custody of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, a 25 relative, or a nonrelative placement; 26 (b) That public notification is the most appropriate method of recovering the child 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 289/GA Page 2 of 2 SB028910.100 - 1715 - XXXX 3/16/2026 3:31 PM GA in a safe and efficient manner; and 1 (c) The geographic area in which the notification shall be made. 2 (4) If the department determines [it is determined by the department] that public 3 notification shall be initiated, the department shall notify and provide the public 4 and private agencies and organizations that[which] will issue[actually provide] the 5 notification[ and shall provide those organizations and agencies] with the 6 information that[which] the department deems necessary. 7 (5) All law enforcement agencies in the Commonwealth shall coo perate with the 8 department in the provision and dissemination of information regarding any 9 abducted or missing and endangered child[minor]. 10 (6) A[No] law enforcement agency[,] other than the department[,] shall not activate the 11 notification system specified in this section without the authority of the department. 12 (7) The system shall be operated by all agencies of the Commonwealth within existing 13 budgetary appropriations. 14 Section 2. This Act may be cited as Wynter's Law. 15