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H 2671

An Act relative to Massachusetts policy and procedures for missing and abducted children

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Manny Cruz and 1 co-sponsor

H 2671 - An Act relative to Massachusetts policy and procedures for missing and abducted children OverviewBill Number: H 2671 Title: An Act relative to Massachusetts policy and pr

Bill reported favorably by committee as changed and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
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Bill Summary · H 2671

H 2671 - An Act relative to Massachusetts policy and procedures for missing and abducted children

Overview

Bill Number: H 2671
Title: An Act relative to Massachusetts policy and procedures for missing and abducted children
Status: Bill reported favorably by committee as changed and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
Introduced: February 27, 2025

Purpose and Intent

This bill aims to strengthen Massachusetts' response to cases of missing and abducted children. The legislation seeks to improve coordination between law enforcement, social services, and the public to enhance the chances of locating missing children and preventing abductions. The bill is motivated by concerns over high-profile cases of missing children and a desire to ensure the state has robust, standardized procedures in place.

Key Provisions

  • Requires the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to develop and maintain a statewide plan for responding to reports of missing and abducted children
  • Mandates the creation of a dedicated state-level task force to coordinate missing children investigations and response efforts
  • Establishes standardized training requirements for law enforcement on missing children protocols and investigative best practices
  • Directs the development of a public awareness campaign to educate residents on reporting procedures and warning signs of child abductions
  • Requires schools to implement policies for quickly notifying authorities of suspected student disappearances
  • Authorizes the use of "Amber Alerts" for high-risk missing child cases to rapidly disseminate information to the public

Affected Parties and Impacts

The bill would impact several key stakeholders:

  • Law enforcement agencies would be required to follow new standardized protocols and participate in specialized training
  • Schools would need to update their emergency response plans and notification procedures
  • Families of missing children would benefit from a more coordinated, comprehensive state-level response
  • The general public may receive more frequent emergency alerts about missing child cases

Overall, the legislation is intended to improve the chances of locating missing children and preventing future abductions across Massachusetts.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

The bill has been reported favorably by the relevant legislative committee and has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee for further consideration. If approved by that committee, the bill would then proceed to a full vote by the Massachusetts House of Representatives. If passed by the House, it would move to the state Senate for additional review and voting. The governor would have the final decision on whether to sign the bill into law.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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