GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 698
Short Title: Center for Missing Persons to Highway Patrol. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Miller and Pyrtle (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery, if favorable, State and Local
Government, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
April 3, 2025
*H698 -v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO TRANSFER THE NORTH CAROLINA CENTER FOR MISSING PERSONS TO 2
THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
SECTION 1. All functions, powers, duties, and obligations vested in the North 5
Carolina Center for Missing Persons in the Department of Public Safety are transferred to, vested 6
in, and consolidated within the State Highway Patrol by a Type I transfer, as defined in 7
G.S. 143A-6. 8
SECTION 2. Article 17 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes, as enacted by S.L. 9
2024-57, is amended by adding a new Part 4 to be entitled "North Carolina Center for Missing 10
Persons." 11
SECTION 3. Subpart B of Part 5 of Article 13 of Chapter 143B of the General 12
Statutes is recodified as Part 4 of Article 17 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes, as enacted 13
by S.L. 2024-57, as follows: 14
Former Citation Recodified Citation 15
143B-1010 143B-1760 16
143B-1011 143B-1761 17
143B-1012 143B-1762 18
143B-1013 143B-1763 19
143B-1014 143B-1764 20
143B-1015 143B-1765 21
143B-1016 143B-1766 22
143B-1017 143B-1767 23
143B-1018 143B-1768 24
143B-1019 143B-1769 25
143B-1020 143B-1770 26
143B-1021 143B-1771 27
143B-1022 143B-1772 28
143B-1023 143B-1773 29
SECTION 4. Part 4 of Article 17 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes, as 30
recodified by Section 3 of this act, reads as rewritten: 31
"Part 4. North Carolina Center for Missing Persons. 32
"§ 143B-1760. North Carolina Center for Missing Persons established. 33 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 698-First Edition
There is established within the Department of Public Safety State Highway Patrol the North 1
Carolina Center for Missing Persons, which shall be organized and staffed in accordance with 2
applicable laws. The purpose of the Center is to serve as a central repository for information 3
regarding missing persons and missing children, with special emphasis on missing children. The 4
Center may utilize the Federal Bureau of Investigation/National Crime Information Center's 5
missing person computerized file (hereinafter referred to as FBI/NCIC) through the use of the 6
Police Information Network in the North Carolina Department of Justice. 7
… 8
"§ 143B-1762. Control of the Center. 9
The Center is under the direction of the Secretary of the Department of Public Safety 10
Commander of the State Highway Patrol and may be organized and structured in a manner as the 11
Secretary deems appropriate to ensure that the objectives of the Center are achieved. The 12
Secretary Commander may employ those Center personnel as the General Assembly may 13
authorize and provide funding for. 14
"§ 143B-1763. Secretary Commander to adopt rules. 15
The Secretary Commander of the State Highway Patrol shall adopt rules prescribing all of 16
the following: 17
(1) Procedures for accepting and disseminating information maintained at the 18
Center. 19
(2) The confidentiality of the data and information, including the missing person 20
report, maintained by the Center. 21
(3) The proper disposition of all obsolete data, including the missing person 22
report; provided, data for an individual who has reached the age of 18 and 23
remains missing must be preserved. 24
(4) Procedures allowing a communication link with the Police Information 25
Network and the FBI/NCIC's missing person file to ensure compliance with 26
FBI/NCIC policies. 27
(5) Forms, including but not limited to a missing person report, considered 28
necessary for the efficient and proper operation of the Center. 29
… 30
"§ 143B-1765. Dissemination of missing persons data by law-enforcement agencies. 31
… 32
If the report involves a missing child and the report meets the criteria established in 33
G.S. 143B-1021(b), G.S. 143B-1771(b), as soon as practicable after receipt of the report, the law 34
enforcement agency shall notify the Center and the National Center for Missing and Exploited 35
Children of the relevant data about the missing child. 36
… 37
"§ 143B-1766. Responsibilities of Center. 38
The Center shall do all of the following: 39
… 40
(9) Maintain a directory of existing public and private agencies, groups, and 41
individuals that provide effective assistance to families in the areas of 42
prevention of child abduction, location of missing children and missing 43
persons, and follow-up services to the child or person and family, as 44
determined by the Secretary of Public Safety.Commander of the State 45
Highway Patrol. 46
… 47
(13) Perform such other activities that the Secretary of Public Safety Commander 48
of the State Highway Patrol considers necessary to carry out the intent of its 49
mandate. 50
… 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 698-First Edition Page 3
"§ 143B-1768. Release of information by Center. 1
The following may make inquiries of, and receive data or information from, the Center: 2
… 3
(4) Any person engaged in bona fide research when approved by the Secretary; 4
Commander of the State Highway Patrol; provided, no names or addresses 5
may be supplied to this person. 6
(5) Any other person authorized by the Secretary of the Department of Public 7
Safety Commander of the State Highway Patrol pursuant to 8
G.S. 143B-1013.G.S. 143B-1763. 9
"§ 143B-1769. Provision of toll-free service; instructions to callers; communication with 10
law-enforcement agencies. 11
The Center shall provide a toll-free telephone line for anyone to report the disappearance of 12
any individual or the sighting of any missing child or missing person. The Center personnel shall 13
instruct the caller, in the case of a report concerning the disappearance of an individual, of the 14
requirements contained in G.S. 143B-1014 G.S. 143B-1764 of first having to submit a missing 15
person report on the individual to the law-enforcement agency having jurisdiction of the area in 16
which the individual became or is believed to have become missing. Any law-enforcement 17
agency may retrieve information imparted to the Center by means of this phone line. The Center 18
shall directly communicate any report of a sighting of a missing person or a missing child to the 19
law-enforcement agency having jurisdiction in the area of disappearance or sighting. 20
"§ 143B-1770. Improper release of information; penalty. 21
Any person working under the supervision of the Director of Victims and Justice Services 22
who knowingly and willfully releases, or authorizes the release of, any data, information, or 23
records maintained or possessed by the Center to any agency, entity, or person other than as 24
specifically permitted by Subpart B this Part or in violation of any rule adopted by the Secretary 25
Commander of the State Highway Patrol is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. 26
"§ 143B-1771. North Carolina AMBER Alert System established. 27
(a) There is established within the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons the 28
AMBER Alert System. The purpose of AMBER Alert is to provide a statewide system for the 29
rapid dissemination of information regarding abducted children. 30
(b) The AMBER Alert System shall make every effort to disseminate information on 31
missing children as quickly as possible when all of the following criteria are met: 32
(1) The child is 17 years of age or younger;younger. 33
(2) The If abduction is not known or suspected to be by a parent of the child, 34
unless the child's life is must be suspected to be in imminent danger of serious 35
injury or death;death. 36
(3) The child is believed:believed (i) to have been abducted and (ii) to be in danger 37
of injury or death. 38
a. To have been abducted, or 39
b. To be in danger of injury or death; 40
(4) The child is not a runaway or voluntarily missing; andmissing. 41
(5) The abduction has been reported to and investigated by a law enforcement 42
agency. 43
If the abduction of the child is known or suspected to be by a parent of the child, the Center, 44
in its discretion, may disseminate information through the AMBER Alert System if the child is 45
believed to be in danger of injury or death. 46
… 47
(f) The Department of Public Safety, State Highway Patrol, on behalf of the Center, may 48
accept grants, contributions, devises, and gifts, which shall be kept in a separate fund, which shall 49
be nonreverting, and shall be used to fund the operations of the Center and the AMBER Alert 50
System. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 4 House Bill 698-First Edition
"§ 143B-1772. North Carolina Missing Endangered System Silver Alert established. 1
(a) There is established within the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons the Missing 2
Endangered System. Silver Alert. The purpose of the Missing Endangered System Silver Alert 3
is to provide a statewide system for the rapid dissemination of information regarding a missing 4
person or missing child aged 65 or older who is believed to be suffering from dementia, 5
Alzheimer's disease, or a cognitive impairment that, in light of the person's or child's missing 6
status, requires the person or child to be protected from potential abuse or other physical harm, 7
neglect, or exploitation.that causes an irreversible deterioration of intellectual faculties that 8
makes them unable to meet their own needs or to seek help without assistance. 9
(b) If the Center or a law enforcement agency receives a request that involves a missing 10
person or missing child as described in subsection (a) of this section, and at the time of receipt 11
no more than 72 hours have passed since the person or child went missing, the Center or law 12
enforcement agency shall issue an alert providing for rapid dissemination of information 13
statewide regarding the missing person or missing child. person. The Center or law enforcement 14
agency shall make every effort to disseminate the information as quickly as possible when the 15
person's or child's status as missing has been reported to a law enforcement agency.agency, 16
including procedures for the use of the Wireless Emergency Alert. 17
(c) The Center and all law enforcement agencies shall adopt guidelines and develop 18
procedures for issuing an a 90-day alert for missing persons and missing children as described in 19
subsection (a) of this section and shall provide education and training to encourage radio and 20
television broadcasters to participate in the alert. The guidelines and procedures shall ensure that 21
specific health information about the missing person or missing child is not made public through 22
the alert or otherwise. 23
(d) The Center and all law enforcement agencies shall consult with the Department of 24
Transportation and develop a procedure for the use of overhead permanent changeable message 25
signs to provide information on the missing person or missing child meeting the criteria of this 26
section when information is available that would enable motorists to assist in the recovery of the 27
missing person or missing child. person. The Center and the Department of Transportation shall 28
develop guidelines for the content, length, and frequency of any message to be placed on an 29
overhead permanent changeable message sign. 30
"§ 143B-1773. North Carolina Blue Alert System established. 31
… 32
(c) The Center shall adopt guidelines and develop procedures for the statewide 33
implementation of the Blue Alert System and shall provide education and training to encourage 34
radio and television broadcasters to participate in the alert.alert, including procedures for the use 35
of the Emergency Alert System and the Wireless Emergency Alert. 36
… 37
"§ 143B-1774. North Carolina Missing Endangered Alert established. 38
(a) There is established within the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons the Missing 39
Endangered Alert. The purpose of the Missing Endangered Alert is to provide a statewide system 40
for the rapid dissemination of information regarding a missing person, aged 64 or younger, or 41
missing child who is believed to be suffering from dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or a cognitive 42
impairment that causes an irreversible deterioration of intellectual faculties that makes them 43
unable to meet their own needs or to seek help without assistance and that is not a risk to the 44
general public. 45
(b) If the Center receives a request that involves a missing person or missing child as 46
described in subsection (a) of this section, and at the time of receipt no more than 72 hours have 47
passed since the person or child went missing, the Center shall issue an alert providing for rapid 48
dissemination of information statewide regarding the missing person or missing child. The Center 49
shall make every effort to disseminate the information as quickly as possible when the person's 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 698-First Edition Page 5
or child's status as missing has been reported to a law enforcement agency, including procedures 1
for the use of the Wireless Emergency Alert. 2
(c) The Center shall adopt guidelines and develop procedures for issuing a 90-day alert 3
for missing persons and missing children as described in subsection (a) of this section and shall 4
provide education and training to encourage radio and television broadcasters to participate in 5
the alert. The guidelines and procedures shall ensure that specific health information about the 6
missing person or missing child is not made public through the alert or otherwise. 7
(d) The Center shall consult with the Department of Transportation and develop a 8
procedure for the use of overhead permanent changeable message signs to provide information 9
on the missing person or missing child meeting the criteria of this section when information is 10
available that would enable motorists to assist in the recovery of the missing person or missing 11
child. The Center and the Department of Transportation shall develop guidelines for the content, 12
length, and frequency of any message to be placed on an overhead permanent changeable 13
message sign. 14
"§ 143B-1775. North Carolina Ashanti Alert established. 15
(a) There is established within the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons the Ashanti 16
Alert. The purpose of the Ashanti Alert is to provide a statewide system for the rapid 17
dissemination of information regarding a missing person over 18 years of age that is suspected 18
to have been abducted and there is both abductor and vehicle information available. 19
(b) If the Center receives a request that involves a missing person as described in 20
subsection (a) of this section, and at the time of receipt no more than 72 hours have passed since 21
the person went missing, the Center shall issue an alert providing for rapid dissemination of 22
information statewide regarding the missing person. The Center shall make every effort to 23
disseminate the information as quickly as possible when the person's status as missing has been 24
reported to a law enforcement agency, including procedures for the use of the Emergency Alert 25
System and the Wireless Emergency Alert. 26
(c) The Center shall adopt guidelines and develop procedures for issuing a 24-hour alert 27
for missing persons as described in subsection (a) of this section and shall provide education and 28
training to encourage radio and television broadcasters to participate in the alert. 29
(d) The Center shall consult with the Department of Transportation and develop a 30
procedure for the use of overhead permanent changeable message signs to provide information 31
on the missing person or missing child meeting the criteria of this section when information is 32
available that would enable motorists to assist in the recovery of the missing person or missing 33
child. The Center and the Department of Transportation shall develop guidelines for the content, 34
length, and frequency of any message to be placed on an overhead permanent changeable 35
message sign. 36
"§ 143B-1776. North Carolina Missing – Weather Alert established. 37
(a) There is established within the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons the Missing 38
– Weather Alert. The purpose of the Missing – Weather Alert is to provide a statewide system 39
for the rapid dissemination of information regarding a missing person or child that is missing 40
during times of extreme heat or cold and is not in a vehicle, or immediately following a significant 41
weather event. 42
(b) If the Center receives a request that involves a missing person as described in 43
subsection (a) of this section, and at the time of receipt no more than 72 hours have passed since 44
the person went missing, the Center shall issue an alert providing for rapid dissemination of 45
information statewide regarding the missing person. The Center shall make every effort to 46
disseminate the information as quickly as possible, including procedures for the use of the 47
Wireless Emergency Alert. 48
(c) The Center shall adopt guidelines and develop procedures for issuing a 30-day alert 49
for missing persons as described in subsection (a) of this section and shall provide education and 50
training to encourage radio and television broadcasters to participate in the alert." 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 6 House Bill 698-First Edition
SECTION 5. The State Highway Patrol shall adopt rules, or amendments to rules, 1
consistent with the provisions of this act. The State Highway Patrol may use the procedure set 2
forth in G.S. 150B-21.1 to adopt or amend any rules as required under this section. 3
SECTION 6. This act is effective when it becomes law. 4