The Washington association of county officials, in consultation with the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs, the Washington association of coroners and medical examiners, the forensic investigations council, the Washington state patrol, and other interested agencies and individuals, shall convene a committee to coordinate the use of the latest technology and available science to improve reporting of missing persons, to improve the communication within the state and with national databases, to enhance the dissemination of information to other agencies and the public, and to improve reporting for missing persons and the collection and preservation of evidence.

Protocols for the investigation of reported missing persons, identification of human remains, and recommended protocols for the reporting and identification of persons missing as the result of major events not limited to tsunami, earthquake, or acts of terrorism shall be endorsed by the groups named in this section who shall then seek the voluntary adoption of the same by all local law enforcement agencies, coroners, medical examiners, and others charged with locating missing persons or identifying human remains.

Finding—Intent—2006 c 102: “The legislature finds that there were over forty-six thousand reports of persons missing nationwide and over five hundred missing persons in the state of Washington. Major catastrophic events in other parts of the United States this year have also emphasized that identifying victims in mass disasters is often impossible, due to the deficiency in planning by communities and governments. It is the intent of this act to build upon the research and findings of the Washington state missing persons task force, assembled by the state attorney general in 2003, the United States department of justice, and others to aid in recovery of missing persons and the identification of human remains.” [ 2006 c 102 § 1.]