75-712b. Same; missing and unidentified person system; reporting; availability of information; rules and regulations; failure to report. (a) The Kansas bureau of investigation shall establish a missing and unidentified person system which shall be a central repository of information received by law enforcement agencies and coroners in this state relating to persons who have been reported missing or are unidentified. Such information shall be maintained for the purpose of improving the ability of law enforcement to locate and return missing persons, identify persons or human remains and inform and notify, in a timely manner, family members of missing or unidentified persons.

(b) All law enforcement agencies and coroners in this state shall report to the missing and unidentified person system established pursuant to this section all information received relating to missing persons or unidentified persons or human remains. Such reports shall be made in accordance with rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this section.

(c) The information in the missing and unidentified person system established pursuant to this section shall be available to all law enforcement officers and coroners in this state and all governmental entities in this state which have a need for information relating to missing persons or unidentified persons or human remains in this state, in accordance with rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this section.

(d) Upon receiving information that any person is a high-risk missing person, as described in K.S.A. 75-712c, and amendments thereto, the director of the missing and unidentified person system shall immediately provide information concerning such missing person to every law enforcement agency within the state.

(e) The director of the Kansas bureau of investigation may apply for, accept and expend grants, gifts and bequests from any source for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this section.

(f) The director of the Kansas bureau of investigation shall adopt rules and regulations prescribing:

(1) Procedures and forms for reports made to the missing and unidentified person system established pursuant to this section; and

(2) procedures for disseminating information maintained in the missing person system to law enforcement agencies and the federal bureau of investigation as authorized by this section.

(g) Any law enforcement agency or coroner that willfully fails to make any report required by this section shall be liable to the state for the payment of a civil penalty, recoverable in an action brought by the attorney general, in an amount not exceeding $500 for each report not made. Any civil penalty recovered under this subsection shall be paid into the state general fund.

History: L. 1984, ch. 115, § 3; L. 1987, ch. 331, § 2; L. 2006, ch. 37, § 1; L. 2013, ch. 43, § 1; July 1.