52:17B-213 Acceptance of report of missing person without delay.

2. a. A law enforcement agency shall accept without delay any report of a missing person. No law enforcement agency may refuse to accept a missing person report on the basis that:

(1) The missing person is an adult;

(2) The circumstances do not indicate foul play;

(3) The person has been missing for a short period of time;

(4) The person has been missing for a long period of time;

(5) There is no indication that the missing person was in the jurisdiction served by the law enforcement agency at the time of the disappearance;

(6) The circumstances suggest that the disappearance may be voluntary;

(7) The reporting person does not have personal knowledge of the facts;

(8) The reporting person cannot provide all of the information requested by the law enforcement agency;

(9) The reporting person lacks a familial or other relationship with the missing person; or

(10) For any other reason, except in cases where the law enforcement agency has direct knowledge that the person is, in fact, not missing and the exact whereabouts and welfare of the person are known to the agency at the time the report is being made.

b. The law enforcement agency that receives a report of a missing person shall be the lead law enforcement agency in charge of the missing person investigation, and shall continue in that capacity unless another law enforcement agency assumes primary responsibility over the investigation.

c. The lead law enforcement agency shall be entitled to the cooperation of any other law enforcement agency in the State.

L.2007, c.279, s.2.