House Bill 377

AN ACT TO PROVIDE CERTAIN PROCEDURES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES CONCERNING THE INVESTIGATION INTO A MISSING OR UNIDENTIFIED PERSON; TO REQUIRE A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO INITIATE CERTAIN PROCEDURES UPON THE RECEIPT OF A CREDIBLE REPORT OF A MISSING OR UNIDENTIFIED PERSON; TO REQUIRE CERTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THE MISSING OR UNIDENTIFIED PERSON TO BE ENTERED INTO THE NATIONAL MISSING AND UNIDENTIFIED PERSONS SYSTEM; TO PROHIBIT A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY FROM REQUIRING A DELAY BEFORE ACCEPTING A REPORT OR REQUIRING THE APPEARANCE OF A NEXT OF KIN BEFORE INITIATING A MISSING PERSONS INVESTIGATION; TO REQUIRE A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR THE STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER TO ENTER A REPORT OF A MISSING CHILD INTO THE NATIONAL MISSING AND UNIDENTIFIED PERSONS SYSTEM WITHOUT DELAY; TO REQUIRE THE STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER TEST THE DNA OF UNIDENTIFIED HUMAN REMAINS USING FORENSIC GENETIC GENEALOGY TESTING; TO AMEND SECTION 41-61-53, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DEFINE THE TERMS "UNCLAIMED HUMAN REMAINS" AND "UNIDENTIFIED HUMAN REMAINS"; TO AMEND SECTION 41-61-59, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT WHEN A BODY IS UNIDENTIFIED HUMAN REMAINS, THE BODY SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER; TO AMEND SECTION 41-61-61, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT UPON DISCOVERY UNIDENTIFIED HUMAN REMAINS OR ANATOMICAL MATERIAL SUSPECTED OF BEING PART OF THE HUMAN BODY SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER; TO PROVIDE THAT THE WILLFUL DESTRUCTION OF A BODY, BODY PART OR UNIDENTIFIED HUMAN REMAINS SHALL BE A FELONY; TO REQUIRE THE COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER INVESTIGATOR TO ENTER INTO THE NATIONAL MISSING AND UNIDENTIFIED PERSONS SYSTEM ALL UNCLAIMED HUMAN REMAINS CASES WITHIN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF DAYS; TO AMEND SECTION 41-39-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE ANY PHYSICIAN, HOSPITAL, FUNERAL DIRECTOR, EMBALMER, COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER OR OTHER PERSON ACQUIRING POSSESSION OF UNIDENTIFIED HUMAN REMAINS TO SUBMIT THE REMAINS TO THE STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER AND NOT SUBJECT THE REMAINS TO CREMATION, EMBALMING OR OTHER DESTRUCTIVE TREATMENT; TO AMEND SECTION 45-6-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TRAINING RELATED TO THE INVESTIGATION OF UNIDENTIFIED AND MISSING PERSONS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the House of Representatives

• Jay McKnight

  Sponsor

• Senate committee amendmentPending

• Senate floor amendmentAdopted

  Adopted Mar 11

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

In the House of Representatives Jan 9 – Feb 12

1. Jan 9Referred to the House committee on Judiciary B
2. Feb 3Reported from committee in the House: title sufficient, do pass as a committee substitute
3. Feb 11Read the third time in the House
4. Feb 12Committee substitute adopted in the House
5. Passed the House

In the Senate Feb 13 – Mar 11

1. Feb 13Sent to the Senate
2. Feb 17Referred to the Senate committee on Judiciary, Division B
3. Mar 3Reported from committee in the Senate: title sufficient, do pass as amended
4. Mar 11Amended in the Senate
5. Passed the Senate as amended

Back in the House of Representatives Mar 12 – Apr 2

1. Mar 12Returned to the House to concur in the Senate's amendments
2. Mar 18Declined in the House to concur, and invited a conference
3. Mar 23Conferees named in the House: Horan, Grady and McKnight
4. Conferees named in the Senate: Fillingane, Barrett and Hickman
5. Mar 30Conference report filed in the House
6. Conference report filed in the Senate
7. Mar 31Conference report adopted in the House
8. Conference report adopted in the Senate
9. Apr 2Enrolled bill signed in the House

To the Governor Apr 6 – Apr 8

1. Apr 6Enrolled bill signed in the Senate
2. Apr 8Approved by the Governor