I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3653 
To authorize funding for, and increase accessibility to, the National Missing 
and Unidentified Persons System, to facilitate data sharing between 
such system and the National Crime Information Center database of 
the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to provide incentive grants to help 
facilitate reporting to such systems, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015 
Mr. POE of Texas (for himself and Ms. ESTY) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To authorize funding for, and increase accessibility to, the 
National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, to 
facilitate data sharing between such system and the Na-
tional Crime Information Center database of the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation, to provide incentive grants to 
help facilitate reporting to such systems, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as ‘‘Billy’s Law’’ or the ‘‘Help 
Find the Missing Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF THE NATIONAL MISSING AND 
UNIDENTIFIED PERSONS SYSTEM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General, through 
the Director of the National Institute of Justice, is author-
ized to maintain public databases, known as the ‘‘National 
Missing and Unidentified Persons System’’ or ‘‘NamUs’’, 
to contain missing persons records and unidentified re-
mains cases for purposes of assisting to identify missing 
people and solve cases of unidentified human remains. All 
functions, personnel, assets, liabilities, and administrative 
actions applicable to the National Missing and Unidenti-
fied Persons System carried out by the National Institute 
of Justice on the date before the date of the enactment 
of this Act shall be transferred to the National Missing 
and Unidentified Persons System authorized under this 
section as of the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section not 
more than a total of $2,400,000 for each of the fiscal 
years 2016 through 2021. Notwithstanding any other pro-
vision of law, the total amount of Federal funds made 
available for any of the fiscal years 2016 through 2021 
to maintain NamUs may not exceed the amount described 
in the previous sentence. 
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SEC. 3. SHARING OF INFORMATION BETWEEN NCIC AND 
NAMUS. 
(a) SHARING OF INFORMATION.—Not later than the 
end of the 30-day period beginning on the date the online 
data entry format is updated under subsection (c), the At-
torney General shall, in accordance with this section, pro-
vide for information on missing persons and unidentified 
human remains contained in the NCIC database to be 
transmitted to, entered in, and otherwise shared with the 
NamUs databases and for such information contained in 
the NamUs databases to be transmitted to, entered in, 
and otherwise shared with the NCIC database. 
(b) RULES ON CONFIDENTIALITY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney Gen-
eral, in consultation with the Director of the FBI, 
shall promulgate rules pursuant to notice and com-
ment that specify the information the Attorney Gen-
eral may provide from the NCIC files to the NamUs 
databases for purposes of this Act. Such rules 
shall— 
(A) provide for the protection of confiden-
tial, private, and law enforcement sensitive in-
formation contained in the NCIC files; 
(B) be promulgated only after the Director 
approves recommendations by the Advisory Pol-
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icy Board of the Criminal Justice Information 
Services Division of the FBI; 
(C) specify the circumstances in which por-
tions of information may be withheld from 
transfer, entry, or sharing from the NCIC data-
base to the NamUs databases; and 
(D) provide that once an authorized agen-
cy provides an authorization to permit the 
transmission, entering, or sharing of informa-
tion (or portions of information) from the 
NCIC database to the NamUs databases, such 
authorization shall be deemed to apply to any 
updates made to such information, unless other-
wise specified by the agency. 
(2) ADDITIONAL RULES.—In addition to pro-
mulgating rules under paragraph (1), the Attorney 
General, in consultation with the Director of the 
FBI, may also promulgate rules to further protect 
confidential, private, and law enforcement sensitive 
information, such as by creating process to permit 
an individual who is 21 years of age or older to 
proactively prohibit NamUs from creating a profile 
for the individual within the NamUs database if the 
individual were to go missing in the future, and to 
permit an individual who is 21 years of age or older 
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and who is voluntarily missing to request the re-
moval of a published profile of the individual from 
the NamUs database. 
(3) SUBMISSIONS
PRIOR
TO
ONLINE
DATA 
ENTRY FORMAT UPDATE.—With respect to informa-
tion submitted to the NCIC database before the end 
of the 30-day period described in subsection (a), the 
Attorney General may solicit from appropriate au-
thorized agencies authorization to transmit, enter, or 
share such information. 
(c) UPDATES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney Gen-
eral shall update the online data entry format for 
the NCIC database and NamUs databases to pro-
vide State criminal justice agencies, offices of med-
ical examiners, and offices of coroners with the op-
tion to authorize the submission of new information 
and data that is reported to and entered into the 
NCIC database to simultaneously be submitted to 
and entered into the NamUs databases. 
(2) NCIC FORMAT.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—In the case of the 
NCIC database, an update described in para-
graph (1) shall include— 
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(i) an update to the NCIC database 
online data entry format that States use in 
submitting missing persons and unidenti-
fied remains reports, including the addition 
of a new data field allowing States, on be-
half of the authorized agency that origi-
nally submitted the data, to select whether 
or not to have the NCIC report, subject to 
the rules promulgated under subsection 
(b), shared with the NamUs databases; 
and 
(ii) subject to subparagraph (B), a re-
quirement that as a condition of partici-
pating in the NCIC database, States must 
update their missing persons and unidenti-
fied remains collection processes from local 
and tribal law enforcement, medical exam-
iners, and coroners to enable the States to 
acquire information on whether or not the 
authorized agencies originally submitting 
data with respect to a missing person or 
unidentified remains have provided author-
ization to share the information with the 
NamUs databases. 
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(B) EXCEPTION.—Subparagraph (A)(ii) 
shall not apply with respect to any State that 
has in effect a State law providing for a meth-
odology to authorize the sharing of information 
between the NCIC database and NamUs data-
bases. 
(d) AMENDMENTS TO TITLE XXXVII OF THE CRIME 
CONTROL ACT OF 1990 TO REQUIRE REPORTS OF MISS-
ING CHILDREN TO NAMUS.— 
(1) 
REPORTING
REQUIREMENT.—Section 
3701(a) of title XXXVII of the Crime Control Act 
of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 5779(a)) is amended by striking 
the period and inserting the following: ‘‘and, con-
sistent with section 3 (including rules promulgated 
pursuant to section 3(b)) of the Help Find the Miss-
ing Act, shall also report such case, either directly 
or through authorization described in such section to 
transmit, enter, or share information on such case, 
to the NamUs databases (as defined in section 7 of 
such Act).’’. 
(2) STATE REQUIREMENTS.—Section 3702 of 
title XXXVII of the Crime Control Act of 1990 (42 
U.S.C. 5780) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘or the 
National Crime Information Center computer 
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database’’ and inserting ‘‘, the National Crime 
Information Center computer database, or the 
NamUs databases (as defined in section 7 of 
the Help Find the Missing Act)’’; 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘and the 
National Crime Information Center computer 
networks’’ and inserting ‘‘, the National Crime 
Information Center computer networks, and the 
NamUs databases (as so defined)’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (4)— 
(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by inserting ‘‘or the NamUs 
databases’’ after ‘‘National Crime Informa-
tion Center’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘and National Crime Information Center 
computer networks’’ and inserting ‘‘, Na-
tional Crime Information Center computer 
networks, and the NamUs databases’’. 
(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
by this subsection shall apply with respect to reports 
made before, on, or after the date of the enactment 
of this Act beginning on the last day of the 30-day 
period described in subsection (a). 
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(e) AUTHORIZED AGENCIES AUTHORITY TO OVER-
RIDE INFORMATION.—An authorized agency may remove 
or override information (or portions of information) from 
the NamUs database and the NCIC database, as trans-
ferred from the NamUs database under this Act, if such 
information is submitted on behalf of a public user and 
such information is deemed by the authorized agency to 
be inaccurate. 
SEC. 4. INCENTIVE GRANTS PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General 
shall establish a program to provide grants to qualifying 
law enforcement agencies, offices of coroners, offices of 
medical examiners, and other authorized agencies to facili-
tate the process of reporting information regarding miss-
ing persons and unidentified remains to the NCIC data-
base and NamUs databases for purposes of assisting in 
locating such missing persons and identifying such re-
mains. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—As a condition of a grant 
under this section, a grant recipient shall, with re-
spect to each case reported to the agency or office 
of the recipient relating to a missing person de-
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(ii) fingerprints, medical and dental 
records, and photographs of any distin-
guishing characteristics such as scars, 
marks, tattoos, piercings, and other unique 
physical characteristics; 
(iii) in the case of unidentified re-
mains, photographs or digital images that 
may assist in identifying the decedent, in-
cluding fingerprint cards, radiographs, 
palmprints, and distinctive features of the 
decedent’s personal effects; and 
(iv) any other information determined 
to be appropriate by the Attorney General; 
and 
(C) not later than 60 days after the origi-
nal entry of the report, to the greatest extent 
possible, submit to the National DNA Index 
System of the FBI, established pursuant to sec-
tion 210304 of the Violent Crime Control and 
Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 
14132), either directly or through use of 
NamUs victims assistance resources and DNA 
collection services, DNA samples and informa-
tion relating to such case. 
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(2) SHARING OF INFORMATION.—For purposes 
of subparagraph (B), in the case of information a 
grant recipient authorizes to be transferred, entered, 
or shared under section 3 between the NCIC data-
base and NamUs databases, any update to such in-
formation shall be simultaneously made with respect 
to both databases unless specified otherwise by the 
recipient. 
(c) SUBMISSION OF REPORTS.—To satisfy subsection 
(b)(1)(A), a recipient of a grant under this section shall 
submit information required under such subsection— 
(1) separately to the NCIC database and 
NamUs databases; or 
(2) in accordance with section 3, simultaneously 
to the NamUs databases when reporting to the 
NCIC database or to the NCIC database when re-
porting to the NamUs databases. 
(d) PERMISSIBLE USE OF FUNDS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The permissible uses of 
grants awarded under this section include the use of 
funds— 
(A) to hire additional personnel, to acquire 
technology to facilitate timely data entry into 
the relevant databases; 
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(B) to conduct contracting activities rel-
evant to outsourcing the processing of unidenti-
fied remains and the reporting of the resulting 
information to the NCIC database and NamUs 
databases; 
(C) to train local law enforcement per-
sonnel, medical examiners, and coroners to use 
the NCIC database and NamUs databases; 
(D) to assist States’ transition into the 
new system under which information is shared 
between the NCIC database and NamUs data-
bases; and 
(E) for other purposes consistent with the 
goals of this section. 
(2) CLARIFICATION.—In no case may a recipi-
ent of a grant under this section use funds to enter 
or help facilitate the entrance of any false or mis-
leading information about missing persons or un-
identified remains. 
(e) CATEGORIES OF MISSING PERSONS.—The cat-
egories of missing persons described in this subsection are 
the following: 
(1) A missing person age 21 or older who— 
(A) is senile or is suffering from a proven 
mental or physical disability, as documented by 
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a source deemed credible to an appropriate law 
enforcement entity; or 
(B) is missing under circumstances that 
indicate, as determined by an appropriate law 
enforcement entity— 
(i) that the person’s physical safety 
may be endangered; 
(ii) that the disappearance may not 
have been voluntary, such as abduction or 
kidnapping; or 
(iii) that the disappearance may have 
been caused by a natural disaster or catas-
trophe (such as an airplane crash or ter-
rorist attack). 
(2) A missing person who does not meet the cri-
teria described in paragraph (1) but who meets one 
of the following criteria: 
(A) There is a reasonable concern, as de-
termined by an appropriate law enforcement en-
tity, for the safety of the missing person. 
(B) The person is under age 21 and eman-
cipated under the laws of the person’s State of 
residence. 
(f) MINIMUM INFORMATION REQUIRED.— 
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(1) CONTENT
FOR
MISSING
PERSONS.—The 
minimum information described in this section, with 
respect to a missing person, is the following: 
(A) The name, date of birth, city and 
State of residence, gender, race, height, weight, 
eye color, and hair color of the missing person. 
(B) The date and location of the last 
known contact with the missing person. 
(C) The category described in subsection 
(e) in which the missing person is classified. 
(2) CONTENT FOR UNIDENTIFIED HUMAN RE-
MAINS.—The minimum information described in this 
section, with respect to unidentified human remains, 
is the following: 
(A) The estimated age, gender, race, 
height, weight, hair color, and eye color. 
(B) Any distinguishing characteristics such 
as scars, marks, tattoos, piercings, and other 
unique physical characteristics. 
(C) A description of clothing found on the 
decedent. 
(D) City and State where the unidentified 
human remains were found. 
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(E) Information on how to contact the law 
enforcement agency handling the investigation 
and the unidentified human remains. 
(F) Information on the extent to which 
DNA samples are available, including the avail-
ability of such samples submitted to the Na-
tional DNA Index System under subsection 
(b)(1)(C). 
(g) ADMINISTRATION.—The Attorney General shall 
prescribe requirements, including with respect to applica-
tions, for grants awarded under this section and shall de-
termine the amount of each such grant. 
(h) CONFIDENTIALITY.—As a condition of a grant 
under this section, the recipient of the grant shall ensure 
that information reported under the grant meets the re-
quirements promulgated by the Attorney General under 
section 3(b)(1)(A). 
(i) ANNUAL SUMMARY.—For each of the fiscal years 
2013 through 2016, the Attorney General shall publish 
an annual statistical summary of the reports required by 
subsection (c). 
(j) QUALIFYING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY DE-
FINED.—For purposes of this Act, the term ‘‘qualifying 
law enforcement agency’’ means a State, local, or tribal 
law enforcement agency. 
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(k) FUNDING.— 
(1) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—The Attorney 
General may not make a grant under subsection (a) 
unless the applicant involved agrees, with respect to 
the costs to be incurred by the applicant in carrying 
out the purposes described in this section, to make 
available non-Federal contributions (in cash or in 
kind) toward such costs in an amount equal to not 
less than $1 for each $2 of Federal funds provided 
in the grant. 
(2) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this section $8,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
2016 through 2020. 
SEC. 5. REPORT ON BEST PRACTICES. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Attorney General shall issue a report to 
offices of medical examiners, offices of coroners, and Fed-
eral, State, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies de-
scribing the best practices for the collection, reporting, 
and analysis of data and information on missing persons 
and unidentified human remains. Such best practices 
shall— 
(1) provide an overview of the NCIC database 
and NamUs databases; 
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(2) describe how local law enforcement agen-
cies, offices of medical examiners, and offices of 
coroners should access and use the NCIC database 
and NamUs databases; 
(3) describe the appropriate and inappropriate 
uses of the NCIC database and NamUs databases; 
and 
(4) describe the standards and protocols for the 
collection, reporting, and analysis of data and infor-
mation on missing persons and unidentified human 
remains. 
SEC. 6. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act and biennially thereafter, 
the Attorney General shall submit to the Committee on 
the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate a report de-
scribing the status of the NCIC database and NamUs 
databases. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report required by subsection 
(a) shall describe, to the extent available, information 
on— 
(1) the process of information sharing between 
the NCIC database and NamUs databases; and 
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(2) the programs funded by grants awarded 
under section 4. 
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS. 
For the purposes of this Act, the following definitions 
apply: 
(1) AUTHORIZED AGENCY.—The term ‘‘author-
ized agency’’ means a Government agency with an 
originating agency identification (ORI) number and 
that is a criminal justice agency, as defined for pur-
poses of subpart A of part 20 of title 28, Code of 
Federal Regulations. 
(2) FBI.—The term ‘‘FBI’’ means the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation. 
(3) NAMUS DATABASES.—The term ‘‘NamUs 
databases’’ means the National Missing and Uniden-
tified Persons System Missing Persons database and 
National Missing and Unidentified Persons System 
Unidentified Decedents database maintained by the 
National Institute of Justice of the Department of 
Justice. 
(4) NCIC DATABASE.—The term ‘‘NCIC data-
base’’ means the National Crime Information Center 
Missing Person File and National Crime Informa-
tion Center Unidentified Person File of the National 
Crime Information Center database of the FBI, es-
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tablished pursuant to section 534 of title 28, United 
States Code. 
(5) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means any 
State of the United States, the District of Columbia, 
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Is-
lands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Common-
wealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 
Æ 
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