                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

POWERS AND DUTIES OF CLEARINGHOUSE (§ 52-33)

The Clearinghouse shall have the following powers and duties:

1. To maintain a centralized file for the exchange of information on missing
children within the Commonwealth. The Clearinghouse shall accept a missing child
report from any law-enforcement officer as defined in &#xA7; 9.1-101. Any
parent, guardian, legal custodian or other person standing in loco parentis of a
missing child may contact the Clearinghouse to verify the entry of a missing
child report on such child. If the Clearinghouse is requested to verify a
missing child report which has not been received, the Clearinghouse shall
immediately contact the appropriate law-enforcement agency and take such
measures as may be necessary to determine whether a report should be entered in
the centralized file.

2. To maintain a system of intrastate communication to receive information
relating to the disappearance or sighting of missing children. Such system shall
be available twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week.

3. To maintain close liaison with the National Crime Information Center and the
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for the exchange of
information on children suspected of interstate or international travel and for
assistance in the operation of the Clearinghouse.

4. To circulate a monthly bulletin on missing children to the news media, all
law-enforcement agencies, and every school in the Commonwealth.

5. To provide emergency flyers containing physical and situational descriptions
of missing children when requested by law-enforcement agencies.

6. To provide for training of public and private organizations regarding the
operation of the Clearinghouse.

7. To provide assistance to law-enforcement agencies in planning and
implementing programs to fingerprint children.

HISTORY: 1985, c. 259; 2011, cc. 818, 852.