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State Issues (Nebraska): (Please note for 2005, Jason's Law is now LB111.)
Sometime after Jason's disappearance, we decided even if we never find Jason, we want to help other families with missing loved ones. Please consider, before reading on, that a year ago we could never have imagined that we would be a family with a missing loved one. Tomorrow some other family may wake up and find themselves in that same boat. What if that family was yours?
Currently, in the state of Nebraska, there is only one law in regards to the missing. LB 333~6 applies to ages 16 and under and only serves to flag vital statistics . While this is certainly a necessary law, it is far from adequate. Our neighbors in the state of Iowa (Click here to view the Iowa site) have paved the way with a comprehensive law that encompasses all ages, providing much needed assistance to families of the missing person as well as to law enforcement officials working on these difficult cases.
We propose that Nebraska adopt the same law with perhaps only minor variations, calling it "Jason's Law". In order to accomplish this, we need your help. If you are a citizen of the state of Nebraska, we need you to write to your state senator, asking them to support Jason's Law in the next legislative session. We would also ask that you send the same letter to Governor Johanns to let him know the importance of this issue for all citizens. Click here for the prepared letter for you to print and sign. If you do not know who your elected official is, this website will provide that information. Simply enter your zip + four & press the "go" button. In some cases, an email for your state senator will be provided, and you may then paste the prepared letter into an email and send it immediately. Governor Johanns also has an email address provided for you. Working together, we can make a difference. Please consider being a part of this very important venture.
Can you please take a moment of your time right now to send these letters? Jason and thousands of other missing persons and their families are depending on you!
Please help end the heartache.
Update, June 16th, 2002: Senator Patrick Bourne has agreed to be our sponsor for Jason's Law. He will introduce this law in the next legislative session, which will commence on January 5th, 2003. His office will now spearhead the research into this vital issue & take steps to draft the law as per Nebraska mandate. Please send the prepared letter as described above to your elected official so that we can make Jason's Law a reality for all Nebraskans.
Update, August 13, 2002: Even with the budget woes in the state of Nebraska, we will press on with the proposed law. Although it may not be passed in the next legislative session, proposing the law will bring about more public awareness & ensure our lawmakers understand the importance of this issue, which has languished for far too long. We will also pursue corporate sponsorship to cover the costs of Jason's Law.
Update, October 13, 2002: Senator Bourne's office is busy researching missing person's laws across the country in preparation for the drafting of Jason's Law. We stay in contact with them often. I will be speaking about this very important issue at the First Baptist Church in Lincoln on October 16th.
Update, January 10th, 2003: LB203 was presented to the 98th Nebraska State Legislative session today. You can read the text of Jason's Law by going to this website, typing in "203" (Now 111) into the "search by number" box and then clicking on the submit button.
Update, February 13th, 2003: A hearing for LB203 is now scheduled for Thursday, February 27th at the State Capitol building in Lincoln. The exact time and location will be announced and can be found by clicking on the "Committee Hearing Schedule" link on the Nebraska Legislature website. Our story will air on Nebraska Public Educational Network's Statewide program on Wednesday, February 26th, at 7pm.
December 2003:
We presented Jason's Law, LB203 to the Judiciary Committee on February 27th. As the state of Nebraska is currently facing a budget deficit, the bill did not get passed from the committee to the Senate floor for debate in the 2003 session. We still need citizens of Nebraska to petition their elected officials to be aware of this issue and to say "yes" to Jason's Law when the bill goes up for debate. (please send the prepared letter as noted towards the top of this page)
If you have Real Player, you can view the segment about our story & Jason's Law that was broadcast on the Statewide TV show by clicking on this link. Our thanks to Perry Stoner and the NETV staff for telling our story.
Why Jason's Law?
According to the Nebraska State Patrol, there were over 170 new missing child cases up until October of 2003. There are over 760 active missing children's cases in the state. These figures do not include adults. If we look at nationwide statistics, there are over 97,000 active missing person's cases, with approximately 44,000+ being adults. Missing adult cases are not tracked in Nebraska. Taking that same national average into consideration, there could be well over 2,000 missing persons in the state and there are many who are not reported.
Assistance to families of missing persons, particularly adults, can be hard to come by. We believe that all families have the right to answers and to be able to have hope. Jason's Law can help by bringing about public awareness for the missing and ensuring all cases are handled in a uniform manner, plus provide training for law enforcement.
Please help us to help others who also will have an empty seat at the table at their holiday gatherings. Please support Jason's Law. Continue to read updates by clicking here.
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