BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 223 By: Munoz (Sponsor) Health and Human Services 05-04-95 Senate Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Under current law, the definition of a missing child is a person under 17 years of age. The National Child Search Assistance Act of 1990 requires states to report all missing children under the age of 18. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 223 redefines "child" to mean a person under 18 years of age. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Sections 79.001(a), (2), and (4), Human Resources Code, to redefine "child" as a person under 18, rather than 17, years of age; and "missing person" as a person 18, rather than 17, years old or older whose disappearance is possibly not voluntary. Provides that "missing child" or "missing person" also includes a person of any age who is missing and is in the company of another person or is in a situation the circumstances of which indicate that the missing child's or person's safety is in doubt. SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1995. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.