Enrolled Bill Summary

            House Bill 1516 amends the Human Resources Code to create a system for flagging certain records of missing children. It requires a law enforcement agency that receives a report of a missing child to notify each school and day-care facility in which the child has been enrolled, the bureau of vital statistics if the child was born in the state, and the proper authority in another state if the child was born or enrolled in a school or day-care facility in that state. It requires the bureau of vital statistics, upon receiving such notice, to alert the appropriate local birth certificate agency. The bill requires each party that receives notice of a missing child to flag the child's records to note that the child is missing, provides for the removal of such a flag when the child has been found, and sets forth procedures that must be followed when a request for records relating to a missing child is received.

            In addition, House Bill 1516 requires a school to collect certain background information for children under the age of eleven who are enrolling at the school for the first time and to notify the appropriate law enforcement agency if the person enrolling a child fails to provide the required information. It requires the law enforcement agency, upon receipt of such notice, to check the missing children and missing persons information clearinghouse and to take appropriate action if the child has been reported missing.