OLYMPIA - Reports of endangered, missing persons will be submitted to law enforcement more quickly under a bill approved Friday by the Washington State Senate.

Under Senate Bill 6162, a missing person’s report would be submitted once an endangered person has been missing for six hours, rather than 12 hours. A person is considered endangered based on age or a health, mental or physical disability.

“We’ve had the Endangered, Missing Persons Advisory Program for a few years but we’re trying to make it work better,” said Sen. Debbie Regala, the bill’s sponsor. “Enlisting the public’s support as quickly as possible in looking for a person is so important when that person, because of their age, physical or mental capacity, is in real danger.”

In addition to timeliness, Regala says Senate Bill 6162 will provide the option of using social media to spread the word that someone is missing and endangered.

“When we have an endangered missing person, immediacy and timeliness is really important to ensure that we find that person and get them back to where they belong,” said Regala.

The bill has been nicknamed Kimmie’s Law after the 2010 murder of 16 year old Kimmie Daily, a girl with developmental disabilities who was murdered after being lured from her South Hill home.

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For more information: Ian Cope, Senate Democratic Caucus, 360-786-7535

For interviews: Sen. Debbie Regala, 360-786-7652