§774 Reunification

Summary

Creates the National Emergency Child Locator Center and defines key words: Child Locator Center means that Center; declared event means a major disaster or emergency; displaced adult means someone 21 or older forced from their usual home by a declared event; displaced child means someone under 21 forced from their usual home by a declared event. Within 180 days after October 4, 2006, the Administrator, working with the U.S. Attorney General, must set up the Center inside the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The Center must get information quickly to help identify and reunite children with families. Its job is to let people report missing or displaced children or adults who may know a child’s location, point people to other sources of help, and help law enforcement find children. The Center must run a toll-free phone line and a website, send staff to disaster areas, help with reunification, share information with government and relief groups, provide technical help, make cooperative agreements (for example with the American Red Cross), and have an emergency plan. Reports about displaced adults must be sent to a designated entity and to the National Emergency Family Registry and Locator System. Within 270 days after October 4, 2006, the Administrator must send a report to the listed Senate and House committees about the Center’s status, funding, and any problems setting it up or finishing agreements.