Oklahoma House Bill HB3988

Oklahoma 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/7/22
• Refer: 2/8/22

Caption

Missing children; electronic directory photograph repository; missing child report; effective date.

Impact

The bill also stipulates that local school districts must inform parents each year about the repository and provide them with a choice to participate. Laws related to how law enforcement communicates about missing child reports and the procedures for obtaining photographs from the repository will be amended. Moreover, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is tasked with assisting the Department of Education in maintaining an updated list of missing schoolchildren, which highlights the collaborative efforts needed to address this serious issue.

Summary

House Bill 3988 aims to enhance the process of locating missing children in Oklahoma by creating an electronic directory photograph repository managed by the State Department of Education. This repository will allow parents to voluntarily submit photographs of their children, which will be made available to law enforcement agencies when a child is reported missing. This initiative seeks to improve the response time and efficiency in handling missing child reports by providing immediate access to current photographs, which can be critical in urgent situations.

Contention

While the intentions behind HB 3988 are largely viewed as positive, there are potential points of contention regarding privacy and data security concerns. Parents might be apprehensive about submitting photographs to a state-run repository, fearing misuse of their children's images or information. Additionally, the necessity of consistent updates and management of the repository may pose challenges, particularly in ensuring law enforcement's effective communication and timely access to these important resources.