New York Laws
Article 35 - Division of Criminal Justice Services
837-F - Missing and Exploited Children Clearinghouse.

(i) the form and manner in which materials and information pertaining
to missing children including but not limited to biographical data and
pictures, sketches or other likenesses may be included in stationery,
newsletters and other written or electronic printings;
(ii) appropriate sources from which such materials and information may
be obtained;
(iii) the procedures by which such materials and information may be
obtained; and
(iv) any other matter the clearinghouse considers appropriate.
(b) By January first, nineteen hundred ninety-eight arrange for the
transmission of biographical information and pictures, sketches or other
likenesses of missing children to state agencies, departments and the
legislature to use in printings.

11. Operate a toll-free twenty-four hour hotline for the public to use
to relay information concerning missing children;
12. Submit an annual report to the governor and legislature regarding
the activities of the clearinghouse including statistical information
involving reported cases of missing children pursuant to section eight
hundred thirty-seven-m of this article and a summary of the division's
efforts with respect to the use of monies from the missing and exploited
children clearinghouse fund created pursuant to section ninety-two-w of
the state finance law; and
13. Take such other steps as necessary to assist in education,
prevention, service provision and investigation of cases involving
missing and exploited children.
14. (a) In consultation with the division of state police and other
appropriate agencies, develop, and regularly update and distribute,
model missing child prompt response and notification plans, which shall
be available for use, in their discretion, as appropriate, by local
communities and law enforcement personnel. Such plans shall involve a
pro-active, coordinated response, planned in advance, that may be
promptly triggered by law enforcement personnel upon confirmation by a
police officer, peace officer or police agency of a report of a missing
child, as defined in subdivision one of section eight hundred
thirty-seven-e of this article.
(b) Such plans shall, at a minimum, provide that:
(i) the name of such missing child, a description of the child and
other pertinent information may be promptly dispatched over the police
communication system, pursuant to subdivision three of section two
hundred twenty-one of this chapter;
(ii) such information may be immediately provided orally,
electronically or by facsimile transmission to one or more radio
stations and other broadcast media outlets serving the community
including, but not limited to, those which have voluntarily agreed, in
advance, to promptly notify other such radio stations and other
broadcast media outlets in like manner;
(iii) such information may be immediately provided by electronic mail
message to one or more internet service providers and commercial mobile
service providers serving the community including, but not limited to,
those which have voluntarily agreed, in advance, to promptly notify
other such internet service providers in like manner;
(iv) participating radio stations and other participating broadcast
media outlets serving the community may voluntarily agree to promptly
broadcast a missing child alert providing pertinent details concerning
the child's disappearance, breaking into regular programming where
appropriate;
(v) participating internet service providers and commercial mobile
service providers serving the community may voluntarily agree to
promptly provide by electronic mail message a missing child alert
providing pertinent details concerning the child's disappearance;
(vi) police agencies not connected with the basic police communication
system in use in such jurisdiction may transmit such information to the
nearest or most convenient electronic entry point, from which point it
may be promptly dispatched, in conformity with the orders, rules or
regulations governing the system; and
(vii) no dispatch or transmission of a report concerning a missing
child shall be required by such plan if the investigating police
department advises, in its discretion, that the release of such
information may jeopardize the investigation or the safety of the child,
or requests forbearance for any reason.
(c) The commissioner shall also designate a unit within the division
that shall assist law enforcement agencies and representatives of radio
stations, broadcast media outlets, internet service providers and
commercial mobile service providers in the design, implementation and
improvement of missing child prompt response and notification plans.
Such unit shall make ongoing outreach efforts to local government
entities and local law enforcement agencies to assist such entities and
agencies in the implementation and operation of such plans with the goal
of implementing and operating such plans in every jurisdiction in New
York state.
(d) The commissioner shall also maintain and make available to
appropriate state and local law enforcement agencies up-to-date
information concerning technological advances that may assist in
facilitating the recovery of missing children. Such information shall
include, but not be limited to, technology using computer assisted
imaging to "age enhance" photographs of missing children, and technology
that may be used to enter such photographs and other pertinent
information concerning missing children into a database accessible to
appropriate officials and persons.

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