HB 2420 -- Child Protection

Sponsor:  Kander

This bill changes the laws regarding child protection.  In its
main provisions, the bill:

(1)  Specifies that the provisions regarding the Amber Alert
System will be known as Sam and Lindsey's Law;

(2)  Requires a local law enforcement agency to immediately
notify the state Amber alert coordinator or his or her designee
whenever a request for an Amber alert is denied;

(3)  Requires a law enforcement agency maintaining the Missouri
Uniform Law Enforcement System (MULES) when entering an order of
protection to include any orders regarding child custody or
visitation and all specifics as to times and dates of custody or
visitation provided in the order.  Any change in child custody or
visitation within an order must be issued to the local law
enforcement agency and the agency responsible for entering the
information into MULES;

(4)  Requires a law enforcement officer upon stopping, detaining,
or arresting a person and prior to releasing the person to check
MULES to determine if the person has a valid order of protection
entered against him or her which designates child custody or
visitation.  If an order is found, the officer must check to
determine if the person currently has custody or visitation
rights at the time and date of the stop, detention, or arrest.
If the officer determines that the person is supposed to
currently have the children and the children are present, the
officer must check the welfare of the children.  If the officer
determines the person is supposed to currently have the children
and the children are not present, the officer must check the
welfare of the children in accordance with a policy developed by
the officer's law enforcement agency and cannot release the
person until that policy has been satisfied.  A person cannot be
detained regarding these provisions for more than 24 hours from
the time of the stop, detention, or arrest.  Every law
enforcement agency must develop a policy detailing how its
officers should check the welfare of children; and

(5)  Requires the court to deny a defendant's bail entirely until
the child victim has been found in any case where the defendant
has been arrested for child kidnapping or abduction and poses a
danger to himself or herself, the child victim, the community, or
any other person.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:14 pm