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Bill 74, Missing Persons Amendment Act, 2024

Taylor, Monique

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Original

Bill 74 Original (PDF)

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

The

Bill amends the Missing Persons Act, 2018 with

respect to vulnerable persons alerts. A vulnerable persons alert can be issued

to facilitate a search for a missing person who, because of their age, a

disability or other circumstances, whether temporary or permanent, is in a

position of dependency on others or is otherwise at a greater risk than the

general population of being harmed by a person in a position of trust or

authority towards them. The Ontario Provincial Police has the authority to

issue a vulnerable persons alert in accordance with a request made by an

officer if it also has the authority to issue an alert known as an AMBER alert.

Bill 74 2023

Act to amend the Missing Persons Act, 2018

His

Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the

Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Subsection 1 (1) of the Missing Persons Act, 2018

is amended by adding the following definition:

“vulnerable

person” means a person who, because of their age, a disability or other

circumstances, whether temporary or permanent,

(

a) is

in a position of dependency on others, or

(

b) is

otherwise at a greater risk than the general population of being harmed by a

person in a position of trust or authority towards them. (“personne vulnérable”)

Subsection 2 (1) of the Act is amended by adding the following paragraph:

4. A

vulnerable persons alert issued under subsection 6.1 (1) to facilitate a search

for a missing person who is a vulnerable person.

The Act is amended by adding the following section:

Vulnerable

persons alert

6.1

(1) An

officer may request that the Ontario Provincial Police issue a vulnerable

persons alert if,

(

a) the

officer believes a missing person is a vulnerable person;

(

b) the

officer has descriptive information about the vulnerable person or about

another person who may be reasonably be expected to have information about the

whereabouts of the vulnerable person; and

(

c) the

officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a vulnerable persons alert will

assist in locating the missing person.

Specifics

of request

(2) A

request may include a description of the region or regions in Ontario in which

the officer believes the vulnerable persons alert would be most effective.

Ontario

Provincial Police

(3) The

Ontario Provincial Police has the authority to issue a vulnerable persons alert

in accordance with a request under this

section if it also has the authority to

issue an alert known as an AMBER alert.

Subsection 8 (4) of the Act is amended by striking out “and” at the end of

clause (

b) and by adding the following clauses:

(b.1) the

total number of vulnerable persons alerts requested in that year;

(b.2) in

the case of the Ontario Provincial Police, the total number of vulnerable

persons alerts issued in that year; and

Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short

title

The

short title of this Act is the Missing Persons

Amendment Act, 2023 .

Date Bill stage Event Outcome Committee

May 16, 2024

First Reading

Consideration of a Bill

Standing Committee on Justice Policy

March 28, 2023

First Reading

Ordered referred to Standing Committee

Standing Committee on Justice Policy

March 28, 2023

First Reading

Order for Second Reading discharged pursuant to Standing Order 77(

a) March 6, 2023

First Reading

Ordered for Second Reading

March 28, 2023

Second Reading

Order for Second Reading discharged pursuant to Standing Order 77(

a) March 6, 2023

First Reading

Vote

Carried

First Reading

March 6, 2023

Carried

March 28, 2023

Order for Second Reading discharged pursuant to Standing Order 77(

a) Ordered referred to Standing Committee

Standing Committee on Justice Policy