Passes out of Senate Judiciary tonight
Missing Persons Bill


SB 55- Missing Persons Act- Senator Sander Rue

Santa Fe—The Senate Judiciary tonight passed a bill designed to help locate missing children and adults faster and more effectively in New Mexico.

The sponsor of SB 55, Senator Sander Rue said his bill includes a timeline when missing person data must be entered into law enforcement data bases so missing people can be located as soon as possible. “We are currently losing valuable time,” Senator Rue said. “This bill that passed Senate Judiciary should keep law enforcement on its toes and requires that data be input in a more timely bases…immediately, if not sooner.”

Senator Rue said his bill also would combine all missing person statues which would lead to a more comprehensive system for finding missing children and adults.

The bill also requires law enforcement to undergo training on the procedures of reporting and investigating missing people. According to Rue, there appears to be a lack of knowledge, training and understanding of the existing law pertaining to missing persons in the law enforcement community and by the general public.

Senator Rue said this three pronged approach should assist greatly in locating missing people.