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2013 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 868
Designating May 25, in 2013 and in each succeeding year, as Child Identification Program Day in Virginia.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 15, 2013
Agreed to by the Senate, February 21, 2013

 

WHEREAS, in 1979, Etan Patz, a six-year-old from New York City, was kidnapped; and

WHEREAS, Etan Patz’ disappearance, along with several other high-profile cases of missing children, helped raise awareness about the issue of missing children; and

WHEREAS, in 1983, President Ronald Reagan declared May 25 as National Missing Children’s Day to encourage efforts to protect children and draw attention to the nation’s missing children; and

WHEREAS, one year later, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children opened and the national 24-hour toll-free missing children’s hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST, was established; and

WHEREAS, each year, 450,000 children run away, 300,000 children are abducted by family members, and more than 58,000 children are abducted by non-family members; and

WHEREAS, in 1997 the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) created the National Child Identification Program to provide parents and guardians with a tool to protect their children; and

WHEREAS, the ID kit allows parents and guardians to record physical characteristics and fingerprints of children on identification cards that are kept at the home of the parent or guardian; and

WHEREAS, the information contained in the ID kit can provide authorities with vital information in case the child is ever reported missing; and

WHEREAS, in 2001 the Federal Bureau of Investigation joined in partnership with the AFCA to help increase awareness of child safety issues; and

WHEREAS, since its inception in 1997, the National Child Identification Program has distributed more than 26 million ID kits, making it the largest child identification effort ever conducted; and

WHEREAS, a day identified as Child Identification Program Day in the Commonwealth will provide an opportunity for law enforcement, other interested entities, and parents and guardians to learn more about child safety; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly designate May 25, in 2013 and in each succeeding year, as Child Identification Program Day in Virginia; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit a copy of this resolution to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, the American Football Coaches Association, and the National Child Identification Program so that members of each organization may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter; and, be it

RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates post the designation of this day on the General Assembly’s website.