PIERRE, S.D. (KJJQ) – Bills are being heard in committee in Pierre as the 2020 legislative session ramps up. The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday passed a measure that would establish a missing persons clearinghouse.

The bill comes from the Office of South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg. He says this will help them carry out the mission set by last year’s bill on missing and murdered indigenous persons.

Ravnsborg says this is a topic that has been getting more attention and neighboring states Montana and Nebraska have been leading the way. He says it allows them to share more information with the public using a website.

Ravnsborg says it’s difficult to find someone if you don’t even know they’re missing.

He believes this measure will help.

The bill passed unanimously and now moves to the full Senate.

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