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State Representative Sheldon Johnson
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4201
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KELSEY SMITH ACT SIGNED INTO LAW
ST. PAUL, MN – The Kelsey Smith Act was signed by the governor today, requiring cell phone companies to turn over to law enforcement records that that show the whereabouts of a missing person who is in danger.
“I’m pleased that the governor signed this important piece of legislation that will help protect Minnesotans," said Rep. Sheldon Johnson (DFL-St. Paul), the author of the bill. “This will give law enforcement another tool to help them find victims.”
The bill is named after Kelsey Smith of Kansas. She was 18 years old when she was abducted and murdered in 2007. For four days her family and police could not find her. When they asked for the “ping” records that would pinpoint her location via cell phone, the family’s cell phone company did not hand those records over. Finally, four days later, the company turned over the records and within 45 minutes authorities located Kelsey’s body.
The Kelsey Smith Act changes state law to require that cell phone companies turn over the records. Currently, those companies only have the option to do so. Cell phone companies, during hearings earlier this legislative session, testified in support of this measure because it prevents them from being sued for handing over the records.
In February Kelsey’s parents, Greg and Missey, testified before the House and Senate in support of this bill, which has also passed in Kansas and has been introduced in other states.
“Hopefully this law prevents what happened to the Smiths from ever happening again,” Johnson said. “It would be devastating if Minnesota lost a life because police couldn’t get the information they needed to find someone who has gone missing.”
The bill passed in the House on a vote of 133-0. Sen. Yvonne Prettner Solon (DLF-Duluth) authored the senate version of the bill.
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