AB 1321: Department of Justice: online missing person registry.
The proposed law aims to enhance the prevention and investigation of crimes related to missing persons. It requires the establishment of an online, automated computer system that responds immediately to reports of missing persons, which would accept and generate specific information on missing individuals. Additionally, the law proposes the creation of an electronic database and support system for the public to report and search for missing children. The system would also include free DNA testing for parents who are reunited with their children to confirm parentage.
| Feb. 02, 2026 | From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. |
| Jan. 31, 2026 | Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution. |
| Apr. 16, 2025 | In committee: Set, second hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author. |
| Apr. 02, 2025 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author. |
| Mar. 11, 2025 | Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S. |
| Amended IN Assembly March 10, 2025 |
| Introduced by Assembly Member Castillo |
February 21, 2025 |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to those provisions.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 14217 is added to the Penal Code, to read:14217.
(a) The Attorney General shall establish, in consultation with nonprofit organizations, homeless shelters, legal aid groups, and government agencies, an electronic database and support system for the public to report and search for missing children, including immigrant children.(a)The online missing persons registry shall accept and generate complete information on a missing person.
(b)The information on a missing person shall be retrievable by any of the following:
(1)The person’s name.
(2)The person’s date of birth.
(3)The person’s social security number.
(4)Whether a dental chart has been received, coded, and entered into the National Crime Information Center Missing Person System by the Attorney General.
(5)The person’s physical description, including hair and eye color and body marks.
(6)The person’s known associates.
(7)The person’s last known location.
(8)The name or assumed name of the abductor, if applicable, other pertinent information relating to the abductor or the assumed abductor, or both.
(9)Any other information, as deemed appropriate by the Attorney General.
(c)The Attorney General, in consultation with local law enforcement agencies and other user groups, shall develop the form in which information shall be entered into the system.
(d)The Attorney General shall establish and maintain within the center a separate and confidential historic database relating to missing children and at-risk adults. The historic database may be used only by the center for statistical and research purposes. The historic database shall be set up to categorize cases relating to missing children and at-risk adults by type. These types shall include the following:
(1)Runaways.
(2)Voluntary missing.
(3)Lost.
(4)Abduction involving movement of the victim in the commission of the crime or sexual exploitation.
(5)Nonfamily abduction.
(6)Family abduction.
(7)Any other categories as determined by the Attorney General.
(e)In addition, the data shall include the number of missing children and missing at-risk adults in this state and the category of each case.
(f)The center may supply information about specific cases from the historic database to a local police department, sheriff’s department, or district attorney, only in connection with an investigation by the police department, sheriff’s department, or district attorney of a missing person case or a violation or attempted violation of Section 220, 261.5, 273a, 273d, or 273.5, or any sex offense listed in Section 290, except for the offense specified in subdivision (d) of Section 243.4.