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<section number="18-123" name="Missing Persons; DaCara Rose's Law" law="code" slug="sec-18-123" node_id="PTIITI17PULOLAPRGECOMA_SUBTITLE_18PO_DIV4MIPOMA_S18-123MIPEDAROLA">
  <level label="a">
    <text>Definitions. In this Section:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Law enforcement agency means:</text>
      <level label="A">
        <text>the Prince George's County Police Department; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="B">
        <text>any incorporated municipality's police department operating within Prince George's County.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Missing person report means a report made to a law enforcement agency that a person's whereabouts are unknown to the reporting party and the circumstances indicate the person may be missing.</text>
      <level label="A">
        <text>including any report that would be accepted pursuant to the Annotated Code of Maryland, Public Safety Article, Section 3-601.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>Mandatory Waiting Period Prohibited; Acceptance Without Delay.</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>A law enforcement agency shall not establish, require, or enforce any mandatory waiting period before taking a missing person report.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A law enforcement agency shall accept without delay a missing person report offered in person.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A law enforcement agency may accept a missing person report by telephone or other electronic means if consistent with the law enforcement agency's written policy, provided that the reporting person completes the report in person as soon as practicable if required by policy.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Public Notice. Each law enforcement agency shall make reasonable efforts to inform the general public and the family of a potential missing person that the agency does not impose a mandatory waiting period before taking a missing person report. Law enforcement agencies shall also make a public campaign specifically tailored to assist missing black women and girls.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>Written Policy. Each law enforcement agency shall maintain a written policy consistent with this Section and with Annotated Code of Maryland, Public Safety Article, Section 3-601.</text>
  </level>
</section>
