The Kelsey Smith Act is Signed Into Law
Overland Park, KS, April 23, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius has signed the Kelsey Smith Act, allowing law enforcement to gather cell phone information more quickly during an emergency situation. Kansas is the first and only state in the nation to pass such a law.
House Bill 2126, named the Kelsey Smith Act, requires wireless telecommunications carriers to provide information about the location of the telecommunications device of a user of the carriers’ services, if requested by a law enforcement agency in order to respond to a call for emergency services or to respond in an emergency situation that involves risk of death or serious physical harm.
The bill, introduced by Representative Rob Olson (R), requires wireless telecommunications companies to release location information to law enforcement of a missing person’s cell phone in a timely manner in emergency situations.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation will be required to collect contact information for all wireless telecommunications companies authorized to do business in Kansas and then share that contact information with law enforcement agencies and 911 call centers. This requirement was an amendment added to the bill.
Kelsey Smith was abducted and murdered nearly two years ago. Since then her parents, Greg and Missey Smith, have fought to have the state of Kansas pass "The Kelsey Smith Act," which will strongly require phone companies to help police find missing people. After Kelsey went missing, her parents and law enforcement fought with the Smith’s cell phone company for days before the company released the so-called “ping” records. Police used the information to quickly find Smith’s body, four days after she was abducted and killed.
“While no legislation can ever bring Kelsey back, we can make sure that our dedicated police and rescue workers can now get the information they need, when they need it,” Sebelius said in a statement announcing the bill signing. “Our thoughts continue to be with Kelsey’s family, friends and community.”
The Smiths hope the act in their daughter's name will prevent other families from having to wait for cell phone providers to cooperate with police.
"To have her name associated with something that will save someone else's life, it's a big deal," he said.
To this day, Greg and Missey Smith honor their daughter by wearing buttons with her picture and a necklace with her engraved thumbprint.
They have formed the Kelsey Smith Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the safety and welfare of youths and young adults. The Mission of The Kelsey Smith Foundation, Inc. is to honor and perpetuate the life of Kelsey Smith by empowering families, friends, and communities to proactively protect one of its most precious resources, namely its youth and young adults.
The Kelsey Smith Foundation, Inc., as part of its mission, offers resources to the public to help prevent and/or cope with violent crime. These resources are available electronically or by mail at info@kelseyarmy.org.
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House Bill 2126, named the Kelsey Smith Act, requires wireless telecommunications carriers to provide information about the location of the telecommunications device of a user of the carriers’ services, if requested by a law enforcement agency in order to respond to a call for emergency services or to respond in an emergency situation that involves risk of death or serious physical harm.
The bill, introduced by Representative Rob Olson (R), requires wireless telecommunications companies to release location information to law enforcement of a missing person’s cell phone in a timely manner in emergency situations.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation will be required to collect contact information for all wireless telecommunications companies authorized to do business in Kansas and then share that contact information with law enforcement agencies and 911 call centers. This requirement was an amendment added to the bill.
Kelsey Smith was abducted and murdered nearly two years ago. Since then her parents, Greg and Missey Smith, have fought to have the state of Kansas pass "The Kelsey Smith Act," which will strongly require phone companies to help police find missing people. After Kelsey went missing, her parents and law enforcement fought with the Smith’s cell phone company for days before the company released the so-called “ping” records. Police used the information to quickly find Smith’s body, four days after she was abducted and killed.
“While no legislation can ever bring Kelsey back, we can make sure that our dedicated police and rescue workers can now get the information they need, when they need it,” Sebelius said in a statement announcing the bill signing. “Our thoughts continue to be with Kelsey’s family, friends and community.”
The Smiths hope the act in their daughter's name will prevent other families from having to wait for cell phone providers to cooperate with police.
"To have her name associated with something that will save someone else's life, it's a big deal," he said.
To this day, Greg and Missey Smith honor their daughter by wearing buttons with her picture and a necklace with her engraved thumbprint.
They have formed the Kelsey Smith Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the safety and welfare of youths and young adults. The Mission of The Kelsey Smith Foundation, Inc. is to honor and perpetuate the life of Kelsey Smith by empowering families, friends, and communities to proactively protect one of its most precious resources, namely its youth and young adults.
The Kelsey Smith Foundation, Inc., as part of its mission, offers resources to the public to help prevent and/or cope with violent crime. These resources are available electronically or by mail at info@kelseyarmy.org.
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Contact
Kelsey Smith Foundation
Missey Smith
913-383-1751
www.kelseysarmy.org
Missey Smith
913-383-1751
www.kelseysarmy.org
Contact
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