CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 24Introduced by Assembly Member AlanisJanuary 30, 2025 Relative to National Missing Childrens Day. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTACR 24, as introduced, Alanis. National Missing Childrens Day.This measure would declare May 25, 2025, as National Missing Childrens Day and the 42nd anniversary of the first National Missing Childrens Day.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO Bill TextWHEREAS, In 2023, the California Department of Justice reported over 66,000 missing children in California, which is a 7.24-percent increase from the previous year, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported nearly 360,000 missing children nationwide; andWHEREAS, The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) found that Black and Native American children were disproportionately victimized by child abduction, with 31 percent of missing children reported as Black and 1.5 percent reported as Native American in 2021, which is approximately double the percentage of each populations presence in the United States; and WHEREAS, Of the nearly 2,000 children reported missing in California in 2023, almost three-quarters of those cases were resolved in the same year with the combined efforts of law enforcement and nonprofit entities; andWHEREAS, NCMEC reported a 300-percent increase of reported online enticement of minors between 2021 and 2023; andWHEREAS, Nineteen percent of the children who fled child welfare care and were reported missing in 2023 were likely victims of sex trafficking; andWHEREAS, The United States Department of Justice first recognized National Missing Childrens Day on May 25, 1983, in memory of six-year-old Etan Patz, who was abducted in 1979 while walking to school in New York City; andWHEREAS, The United States Department of Justices Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention established a partnership with NCMEC in 1984 to provide guidance and resources related to child abduction; andWHEREAS, National Missing Childrens Day is recognized to raise awareness about the ongoing child abduction crisis, to commemorate victims of child abduction and their families, and to honor parents, guardians, caregivers, volunteers, and peace officers who remain dedicated to finding missing persons; now, therefore, be itResolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby proclaims May 25, 2025, as National Missing Childrens Day and the 42nd anniversary of the first National Missing Childrens Day; and be it furtherResolved, That the Legislature urges the participation of state agencies, law enforcement, local government, schools, community organizations, families, and individuals in educating minors and adults on preventing child abduction, responding to and reporting threats against personal safety, and connecting others with resources available to victims of abduction; and be it furtherResolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 24Introduced by Assembly Member AlanisJanuary 30, 2025 Relative to National Missing Childrens Day. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTACR 24, as introduced, Alanis. National Missing Childrens Day.This measure would declare May 25, 2025, as National Missing Childrens Day and the 42nd anniversary of the first National Missing Childrens Day.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Concurrent Resolution
No. 24
Introduced by Assembly Member AlanisJanuary 30, 2025
Introduced by Assembly Member Alanis
January 30, 2025
Relative to National Missing Childrens Day.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 24, as introduced, Alanis. National Missing Childrens Day.
This measure would declare May 25, 2025, as National Missing Childrens Day and the 42nd anniversary of the first National Missing Childrens Day.
This measure would declare May 25, 2025, as National Missing Childrens Day and the 42nd anniversary of the first National Missing Childrens Day.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
WHEREAS, In 2023, the California Department of Justice reported over 66,000 missing children in California, which is a 7.24-percent increase from the previous year, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported nearly 360,000 missing children nationwide; and
WHEREAS, The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) found that Black and Native American children were disproportionately victimized by child abduction, with 31 percent of missing children reported as Black and 1.5 percent reported as Native American in 2021, which is approximately double the percentage of each populations presence in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Of the nearly 2,000 children reported missing in California in 2023, almost three-quarters of those cases were resolved in the same year with the combined efforts of law enforcement and nonprofit entities; and
WHEREAS, NCMEC reported a 300-percent increase of reported online enticement of minors between 2021 and 2023; and
WHEREAS, Nineteen percent of the children who fled child welfare care and were reported missing in 2023 were likely victims of sex trafficking; and
WHEREAS, The United States Department of Justice first recognized National Missing Childrens Day on May 25, 1983, in memory of six-year-old Etan Patz, who was abducted in 1979 while walking to school in New York City; and
WHEREAS, The United States Department of Justices Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention established a partnership with NCMEC in 1984 to provide guidance and resources related to child abduction; and
WHEREAS, National Missing Childrens Day is recognized to raise awareness about the ongoing child abduction crisis, to commemorate victims of child abduction and their families, and to honor parents, guardians, caregivers, volunteers, and peace officers who remain dedicated to finding missing persons; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby proclaims May 25, 2025, as National Missing Childrens Day and the 42nd anniversary of the first National Missing Childrens Day; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature urges the participation of state agencies, law enforcement, local government, schools, community organizations, families, and individuals in educating minors and adults on preventing child abduction, responding to and reporting threats against personal safety, and connecting others with resources available to victims of abduction; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.