Legis Daily

Billy's Law

USA117th CongressS-5230| Senate 
| Updated: 12/27/2022
Christopher Murphy

Christopher Murphy

Democratic Senator

Connecticut

Cosponsors (4)
Thomas Tillis (Republican)John Cornyn (Republican)John Hoeven (Republican)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Billy's Law or the Help Find the Missing Act This act provides statutory authority for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to maintain the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) consistent with its existing purpose and structure. NamUs is a national information clearinghouse and resource center for cases involving missing persons and unidentified or unclaimed remains. NamUs is administered by the National Institute of Justice within DOJ. The act also establishes new requirements. First, it requires a law enforcement agency that submits a missing child report to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) to also submit the missing child report to NamUs. The NCIC is a computerized index of criminal justice data and files for reports of missing and unidentified persons. Current law requires law enforcement agencies to submit missing child reports to the NCIC database but not to the NamUs databases. Second, the act establishes requirements to facilitate data sharing between the NCIC database and the NamUs databases with respect to missing and unidentified persons. Specifically, the act requires DOJ to give the National Institute of Justice access to the NCIC missing person and unidentified person records for the purpose of validating cases and reconciling data with NamUs. Additionally, the act requires DOJ to assess the NCIC and NamUs systems and governing statutes, policies, and procedures and create a plan for NCIC to automatically transmit certain records to NamUs. Third, the act requires DOJ to report to forensic medicine service providers and law enforcement agencies on best practices for collecting, reporting, and analyzing data and information on missing persons and unidentified human remains. DOJ must also report to Congress biennially on the status of the NCIC database and the NamUs databases. The report must describe the process of information sharing between the NCIC database and NamUs databases.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
4 versions available

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Timeline
Dec 8, 2022
Introduced in Senate
Dec 8, 2022
Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7080-7081; text: CR S7080-7081)
Dec 8, 2022
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7080-7081; text: CR S7080-7081)
Dec 9, 2022
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 12, 2022

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-9491
Introduced in House
Dec 12, 2022
Received in the House.
Dec 12, 2022
Held at the desk.
Dec 14, 2022
Mr. Nadler moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Dec 14, 2022
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9828-9831)
Dec 14, 2022
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 5230.
Dec 14, 2022
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Dec 15, 2022
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H9842)
Dec 15, 2022
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 422 - 4 (Roll no. 526). (text: CR H9828-9829)
View Vote
Dec 15, 2022
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Dec 23, 2022
Presented to President.
Dec 27, 2022
Signed by President.
Dec 27, 2022
Became Public Law No: 117-327.
  • December 8, 2022
    Introduced in Senate


  • December 8, 2022
    Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7080-7081; text: CR S7080-7081)


  • December 8, 2022
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7080-7081; text: CR S7080-7081)


  • December 9, 2022
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • December 12, 2022

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-9491
    Introduced in House


  • December 12, 2022
    Received in the House.


  • December 12, 2022
    Held at the desk.


  • December 14, 2022
    Mr. Nadler moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.


  • December 14, 2022
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9828-9831)


  • December 14, 2022
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 5230.


  • December 14, 2022
    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.


  • December 15, 2022
    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H9842)


  • December 15, 2022
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 422 - 4 (Roll no. 526). (text: CR H9828-9829)
    View Vote


  • December 15, 2022
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • December 23, 2022
    Presented to President.


  • December 27, 2022
    Signed by President.


  • December 27, 2022
    Became Public Law No: 117-327.

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • S 117-5029: Billy’s Law
  • HR 117-9491: Billy’s Law
Computers and information technologyCongressional oversightCriminal justice information and recordsEmployee hiringGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsIntergovernmental relationsLaw enforcement administration and fundingMissing personsState and local government operationsTechnology assessment

Billy's Law

USA117th CongressS-5230| Senate 
| Updated: 12/27/2022
Billy's Law or the Help Find the Missing Act This act provides statutory authority for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to maintain the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) consistent with its existing purpose and structure. NamUs is a national information clearinghouse and resource center for cases involving missing persons and unidentified or unclaimed remains. NamUs is administered by the National Institute of Justice within DOJ. The act also establishes new requirements. First, it requires a law enforcement agency that submits a missing child report to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) to also submit the missing child report to NamUs. The NCIC is a computerized index of criminal justice data and files for reports of missing and unidentified persons. Current law requires law enforcement agencies to submit missing child reports to the NCIC database but not to the NamUs databases. Second, the act establishes requirements to facilitate data sharing between the NCIC database and the NamUs databases with respect to missing and unidentified persons. Specifically, the act requires DOJ to give the National Institute of Justice access to the NCIC missing person and unidentified person records for the purpose of validating cases and reconciling data with NamUs. Additionally, the act requires DOJ to assess the NCIC and NamUs systems and governing statutes, policies, and procedures and create a plan for NCIC to automatically transmit certain records to NamUs. Third, the act requires DOJ to report to forensic medicine service providers and law enforcement agencies on best practices for collecting, reporting, and analyzing data and information on missing persons and unidentified human remains. DOJ must also report to Congress biennially on the status of the NCIC database and the NamUs databases. The report must describe the process of information sharing between the NCIC database and NamUs databases.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
4 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Dec 8, 2022
Introduced in Senate
Dec 8, 2022
Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7080-7081; text: CR S7080-7081)
Dec 8, 2022
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7080-7081; text: CR S7080-7081)
Dec 9, 2022
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 12, 2022

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-9491
Introduced in House
Dec 12, 2022
Received in the House.
Dec 12, 2022
Held at the desk.
Dec 14, 2022
Mr. Nadler moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Dec 14, 2022
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9828-9831)
Dec 14, 2022
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 5230.
Dec 14, 2022
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Dec 15, 2022
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H9842)
Dec 15, 2022
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 422 - 4 (Roll no. 526). (text: CR H9828-9829)
View Vote
Dec 15, 2022
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Dec 23, 2022
Presented to President.
Dec 27, 2022
Signed by President.
Dec 27, 2022
Became Public Law No: 117-327.
  • December 8, 2022
    Introduced in Senate


  • December 8, 2022
    Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7080-7081; text: CR S7080-7081)


  • December 8, 2022
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7080-7081; text: CR S7080-7081)


  • December 9, 2022
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • December 12, 2022

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-9491
    Introduced in House


  • December 12, 2022
    Received in the House.


  • December 12, 2022
    Held at the desk.


  • December 14, 2022
    Mr. Nadler moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.


  • December 14, 2022
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9828-9831)


  • December 14, 2022
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 5230.


  • December 14, 2022
    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.


  • December 15, 2022
    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H9842)


  • December 15, 2022
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 422 - 4 (Roll no. 526). (text: CR H9828-9829)
    View Vote


  • December 15, 2022
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • December 23, 2022
    Presented to President.


  • December 27, 2022
    Signed by President.


  • December 27, 2022
    Became Public Law No: 117-327.
Christopher Murphy

Christopher Murphy

Democratic Senator

Connecticut

Cosponsors (4)
Thomas Tillis (Republican)John Cornyn (Republican)John Hoeven (Republican)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • S 117-5029: Billy’s Law
  • HR 117-9491: Billy’s Law
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Computers and information technologyCongressional oversightCriminal justice information and recordsEmployee hiringGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsIntergovernmental relationsLaw enforcement administration and fundingMissing personsState and local government operationsTechnology assessment