§ 10-13-5-7 — Powers and duties of clearinghouse; confidentiality of information collected

(a) The clearinghouse shall do the following:
(1) Collect, process, and maintain identification and investigative
information to aid in finding missing children, missing veterans
at risk, and missing endangered adults.
(2) Establish a statewide, toll free telephone line for the reporting:
(A) of missing children, missing veterans at risk, and missing
endangered adults; and
(B) of sightings of missing children, missing veterans at risk,
and missing endangered adults.
(3) Prescribe a uniform reporting form concerning missing
children, missing veterans at risk, and missing endangered adults
for use by law enforcement agencies within Indiana.
(4) Assist in training law enforcement and other professionals on
issues relating to missing children, missing veterans at risk, and
missing endangered adults.
(5) Operate a resource center of information regarding the
prevention of:
(A) the abduction of children; and
(B) the sexual exploitation of children.
(6) Distribute the quarterly directory prepared under section
6(b)(7) of this chapter to schools and hospitals.
(7) Distribute the quarterly directory described in subdivision (6)
to child care centers and child care homes that make an annual
contribution of four dollars ($4) to the clearinghouse. The
contributions must be used to help defray the cost of publishing
the quarterly directory.
(b) For a missing child who was born in Indiana, the clearinghouse
shall notify the vital statistics division of the Indiana department of
health:
(1) within fifteen (15) days after receiving a report under IC 31-36-1-3 (or IC 31-6-13-4 before its repeal) of a missing child
less than thirteen (13) years of age; and
(2) promptly after the clearinghouse is notified that a missing
child has been found.
(c) Upon receiving notification under subsection (b) that a child is
missing or has been found, the vital statistics division of the Indiana
department of health shall notify the local health department or the
health and hospital corporation that has jurisdiction over the area where
the child was born.
(d) Information collected, processed, or maintained by the
clearinghouse under subsection (a) is confidential and is not subject to
IC 5-14-3, but may be disclosed by the clearinghouse for purposes of
locating missing children, missing veterans at risk, and missing
endangered adults.
[Pre-2003 Recodification Citation: 10-1-7-5.]

Legislative History

As added by P.L.2-2003, SEC.4. Amended by P.L.43-2009, SEC.7; P.L.56-2023, SEC.67; P.L.40-2024, SEC.8.