When a report that a child under _____ is missing is received by law enforcement, the agency shall immediately notify each school and day care facility that the child attended or was enrolled as well as the bureau of vital statistics if the child was born in the state that the child is missing

• A. 9 years
• B. 11 years
• C. 10 years
• D. 12 years

Answer: (B)

The rule targets rapid coordination with people and records that know the child. When a report of a missing child at a very young age comes in, law enforcement must immediately notify every school and day care the child attended or was enrolled in, plus the bureau of vital statistics if the child was born in the state. Schools and day cares have daily contact with the child and access to attendance records, transportation patterns, and staff who can quickly recognize someone acting abnormally or provide up-to-date contact information for guardians. Notifying the bureau of vital statistics helps verify identity and access birth records, which can be crucial for confirming parentage, guardianship, and essential details that aid the search.

This immediate, multi-agency outreach is designed for younger children who are more vulnerable and for whom rapid, widespread awareness can make a significant difference in a safe recovery. The threshold is eleven years, so the exact requirement applies specifically to missing children under that age; older youths are governed by different procedures.