Public Safety - State Clearinghouse for Missing Persons

HB 1511 renames Maryland’s "State Clearinghouse for Missing Children" to "State Clearinghouse for Missing Persons" and transfers its operations from Family Law to Public Safety law. It requires the Department of State Police to study its ability to report missing persons data to the national National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NMUPS) and report findings to the Governor and General Assembly by December 1, 2026. The bill updates the clearinghouse’s role to collect, distribute, and publish information on all missing persons (not just children), including annual statistics and volunteer search group contacts. This changes how Maryland law enforcement handles missing persons data and aligns reporting with federal systems. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.