OLYMPIA, Wash. - The Legislature passed a measure Friday that requires homeless or runaway shelters to notify parents, state officials, or law enforcement of a youth's location.
The bipartisan measure was passed by the house on an 89-7 vote while the Senate unanimously passed the legislature in January.
The bill requires overnight shelters to issue the notification within 72 hours of knowing a child is missing.
The current law already requires any person providing shelter to a known runaway to notify parents, police, or the Department of Social and Health Services within eight hours.
