[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 82 (Thursday, June 10, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S6859]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SCHUMER:
  S. 1201. A bill to prohibit law enforcement agencies from imposing a 
waiting period before accepting reports of missing persons between the 
ages of 18 and 21; to the Committee on the Judiciary.


                             suzanne's law

 Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I am introducing legislation today 
to remedy what I believe is a significant shortcoming in federal law 
relating to missing person reports. My bill is entitled ``Suzanne's 
Law,'' to serve as a continuing reminder of the plight of Suzanne 
Lyall. Suzanne, a resident of Ballston Spa, New York, disappeared last 
year at age 19 during the course of her senior year at the State 
University of New York at Albany. All indications are that her 
disappearance was due to foul play. She has never been found, despite 
investigations by campus security, the local police, and the FBI. 
Suzanne's family, friends and relatives dearly miss her and have 
undertaken admirable efforts to secure improvements in campus security 
and in missing person reporting.
  The Lyall family has brought it to my attention that federal law 
currently prohibits state and local law enforcement officials from 
imposing a 24-hour waiting period before accepting a report regarding 
the disappearance of a person under the age of 18, yet it does not 
extend similar protection for reports of missing persons between the 
ages of 18 and 21. This is an oversight that must be remedied. Prompt 
action on the part of law enforcement authorities is of the essence in 
missing person cases. Thus, my bill would prohibit state and local law 
enforcement officials from imposing a 24-hour waiting period before 
accepting ``missing youth'' reports--defined as reports indicating that 
a person of at least 18 years of age and less than 21 years of age was 
missing under suspicious circumstances. Enactment of this legislation 
would enhance the prospects for family reunification in missing person 
cases and may spare other families the pain and sacrifice experienced 
by the Lyalls.
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