Missing persons alert system

AN ACT Relating to missing persons alert systems; amending RCW 1
13.60.010 and 13.60.050; adding a new section to chapter 13.60 RCW; 2
and providing an expiration date. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
Sec. 1. RCW 13.60.010 and 2022 c 256 s 2 are each amended to 5
read as follows: 6
(1) The Washington state patrol shall establish a missing 7
children and endangered person clearinghouse which shall include the 8
maintenance and operation of a toll-free telephone hotline. The 9
clearinghouse shall distribute information to local law enforcement 10
agencies, school districts, the department of children, youth, and 11
families, and the general public regarding missing children and 12
endangered persons. The information shall include pictures, 13
bulletins, training sessions, reports, and biographical materials 14
that will assist in local law enforcement efforts to locate missing 15
children and endangered persons. The state patrol shall also maintain 16
a regularly updated computerized link with national and other 17
statewide missing person systems or clearinghouses, and , within 18
existing resources, shall develop and implement a plan, commonly 19
known as an "amber alert plan" which includes the "amber alert" 20
designation; or an "endangered missing person advisory plan" which 21
S-3461.1
SENATE BILL 5822
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Torres, Dozier, Wagoner, and J. Wilson
Prefiled 12/03/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Law & Justice.
p. 1 SB 5822
includes "endangered person alert," "silver alert ," and "missing 1
indigenous person alert" designations ; for ((voluntary)) mandatory 2
cooperation ((between)) by local, state, tribal, and other law 3
enforcement agencies ((,)) and state government agencies ((,)); and 4
voluntary cooperation by radio and television stations, cable and 5
satellite systems, and social media pages and sites to enhance the 6
public's ability to assist in recovering abducted children and 7
missing endangered persons consistent with the state endangered 8
missing person advisory plan. 9
(2) For the purposes of this chapter: 10
(a) "Amber alert" means the designated title of a missing child 11
advisory that will be used on a variable message sign and text of the 12
highway advisory radio message when used as part of an activated 13
advisory to assist in the recovery of a missing child who meets the 14
following criteria:15
(i) Is known or reasonably suspected to have been abducted, or 16
has gone missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances;17
(ii) As a result of the circumstances in (a)(i) of this 18
subsection, is believed to be in imminent danger of death, serious 19
bodily injury, or trafficking;20
(iii) There is enough descriptive information available to 21
believe that an amber alert will assist in the recovery of the child; 22
and23
(iv) The incident must be reported to and investigated by a law 24
enforcement agency, and the child, suspect, and vehicle information 25
are entered into the national crime information center if sufficient 26
information is available.27
(b) "Child" or "children" means an individual under 18 years of 28
age. 29
(((b))) (c) "Endangered person alert" means the designated title 30
of a missing endangered person advisory that will be used on a 31
variable message sign and text of the highway advisory radio message 32
when used as part of an activated advisory to assist in the recovery 33
of a missing endangered person who does not meet the criteria of (e) 34
or (f) of this subsection.35
(d) "Missing endangered person" means: 36
(i) A missing indigenous woman or indigenous person; ((or))37
(ii) A person who is believed to be in danger because of age, 38
health, mental or physical disability, in combination with 39
p. 2 SB 5822
environmental or weather conditions, or is believed to be unable to 1
return to safety without assistance and who is: 2
(A) A person with a developmental disability as defined in RCW 3
71A.10.020(((5))); 4
(B) A vulnerable adult as defined in RCW 74.34.020; or5
(C) A person who has been diagnosed as having Alzheimer's disease 6
or other age-related dementia; or7
(iii) A missing person who may be a victim of trafficking as 8
defined in RCW 9A.40.100. 9
(((c))) (e) "Missing indigenous person alert" means the 10
designated title of a missing endangered person advisory that will be 11
used on a variable message sign and text of the highway advisory 12
radio message when used as part of an activated advisory to assist in 13
the recovery of a missing indigenous person. 14
(((d))) (f) "Silver alert" means the designated title of a 15
missing endangered person advisory that will be used on a variable 16
message sign and text of the highway advisory radio message when used 17
as part of an activated advisory to assist in the recovery of a 18
missing endangered person age 60 or older. 19
Sec. 2. RCW 13.60.050 and 2009 c 20 s 2 are each amended to read 20
as follows: 21
Within existing resources, the Washington state patrol shall 22
develop and implement a plan, commonly known as an "endangered 23
missing person advisory plan," for ((voluntary)) mandatory 24
cooperation ((between)) by local, state, tribal, and other law 25
enforcement agencies ((,)) and state government agencies ((,)); and 26
voluntary cooperation by radio and television stations ((,)) and cable 27
and satellite systems to enhance the public's ability to assist in 28
recovering endangered missing persons who do not qualify for 29
inclusion in an amber alert. 30
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 13.60 31
RCW to read as follows: 32
By March 31, 2027, and annually thereafter, and in compliance 33
with RCW 43.01.036, the Washington state patrol must prepare and 34
submit an annual report to the governor and appropriate committees of 35
the legislature. The report must cover the prior calendar year and 36
include, at a minimum, the following information: 37
p. 3 SB 5822
(1) The number of missing persons alert activations and the 1
number of children involved; 2
(2) Outcomes, including the number of individuals recovered safe, 3
recovered deceased, or still missing, and the number of recoveries 4
attributable to missing persons alerts; 5
(3) The average and median times from initial report to alert 6
issuance, and from alert issuance to recovery, if available;7
(4) The number of activations that were canceled or later 8
determined to be unfounded; 9
(5) The number of cross-jurisdictional activations and 10
activations involving tribal jurisdictions; 11
(6) Staffing, training, and budget information specific to 12
missing persons alert coordination; 13
(7) A summary of public outreach activities and technology used, 14
including the emergency alert system and social media;15
(8) Two case summaries demonstrating missing persons alerts 16
system performance, provided that personal identifying information 17
and confidential information is redacted, including:18
(a) One case summary illustrating a successful outcome; and19
(b) One case summary illustrating a significant challenge; and20
(9) Recommendations for legislative or administrative action, if 21
necessary, including any estimated costs. 22
This section expires March 31, 2030. 23
--- END ---
p. 4 SB 5822