In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Law enforcement agency” means a State, county, or municipal police department or agency, or a sheriff’s department. “Missing child” means a person who is: under the age of 18 years; and the subject of a missing persons report filed with a law enforcement agency in this State and whose whereabouts are unknown.

On receipt of a report regarding a missing child by a law enforcement agency, the law enforcement agency shall immediately determine if: the missing child has not been the subject of a prior missing persons report; the missing child suffers from a mental or physical handicap or illness; the disappearance of the missing child is of a suspicious or dangerous nature; the person filing the report of a missing child has reason to believe that the missing child may have been abducted; the missing child has ever previously been the subject of a child abuse report filed with the State or local law enforcement agency; or the missing child is under 17 years of age. Upon conclusion by the law enforcement agency that any one of the conditions specified in subsection (a) of this section exists, the law enforcement agency shall immediately: enter all necessary and available information into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) computer networks within 2 hours after receipt of the minimum information necessary to make the entry; institute appropriate intensive search procedures, including the coordination of volunteer search teams; notify the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children; notify the appropriate local department and, to the extent possible, obtain any information that may assist in the locating of the missing child; and enlist the aid of the Department of State Police, when appropriate, in locating the missing child. If the conditions specified in subsection (a) of this section do not exist, the law enforcement agency shall: immediately seek to determine the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the missing child; and implement the procedures set forth in subsection (b) of this section within 12 hours of the filing of a report regarding a missing child, if the missing child has not been located. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, if a missing child has not been located within 24 hours of the filing of a missing persons report and either the local law enforcement agency or the Department of State Police have reason to believe that the missing child may be located in a jurisdiction other than the jurisdiction where the missing persons report was filed, the Department of State Police shall enter the investigation and, in cooperation with the appropriate local law enforcement agencies, assist State and national efforts to locate the missing child. A law enforcement agency may not establish a mandatory waiting period before beginning an investigation to locate a missing child. A law enforcement agency may not adopt rules, regulations, or policies that prohibit or discourage the filing of a report or the taking of any action on a report that a child is a missing child or that a child is believed to be a missing child. Every person filing a report of a missing child shall be required to notify the local law enforcement agency and the Department of State Police immediately upon the locating of the missing child if it is unlikely that the local law enforcement agency or the Department of State Police have knowledge that the missing child has been located.

There is a State Clearinghouse for Missing Children operated by the Department of State Police that is responsible for: the receipt, collection, and distribution of general information and annual statistics regarding missing children; and coordination of law enforcement agencies and other interested persons or groups within and outside the State regarding information on children who have disappeared from, or are thought to be located in, Maryland. For children who have disappeared from or are thought to be located in the State, the State Clearinghouse for Missing Children: shall publish: the names of and relevant available information on missing children; and annual statistics regarding missing children; and may establish and maintain a list of organizations and groups that provide volunteer search teams or resources relating to missing children. The Secretary of State Police may develop, in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies, a plan for voluntary fingerprinting programs for children.