Kelsey's Law In California?

I received the following email from Missey Smith, Kelsey Smith's mom, last night:

Armand,

Thank you for your support of Kelsey’s Law in Kansas. I know that California has proposed a similar law. I don’t know the status nor the bill #. Sorry.

Greg and I would be willing to come to California to testify if they would like. We go to Philadelphia on July 20 to present this law to state legislators from across the nation. We will present it on July 21st.

Blessings,

Missey Smith

I did some checking, but I couldn't locate any reference to pending legislation in the California state legislature for a law requiring that cell phone providers cooperate with law enforcement in missing persons cases.

Accordingly, I sent an email to my state assembly member, Julia Brownley, asking if such legislation is pending:

Dear Assemblymember Brownley:

In June 2007, Kelsey Smith was abducted from a Target store parking lot. She was found four days later raped and strangled. Her cell phone pings led authorities to her body. However, Verizon dragged their feet in providing cell phone ping data to law enforcement.

I have followed the Kelsey Smith case from the beginning and I agreed with the Kansas legislature that it would be in the best interests of all Kansas citizens if a law requiring cell phone companies to cooperate with law enforcement in cases involving kidnappings be enacted.

Is there pending legislation for a similar law in California? If not, would you be willing to sponsor such legislation?

Greg and Missey Smith, the parents of Kelsey Smith, have started the Kelsey Smith Foundation (Kelsey's Army) to educate young women on how to prevent kidnappings. They would be willing to come to California to speak in favor of legislation mandating that cell phone providers cooperate with law enforcement in missing persons cases.

Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

Armand Vaquer

I notified Missey Smith of my query and will notify her when I receive a response from Assemblymember Brownley. I will post Brownley's response when it is received.



There is an open case in San Diego County of a missing high school student, Amber Leeann Dubois (above), whose cell phone pinged a day after her disappearance. To date, she has not been found. Thus far, her cell phone provider has cooperated with law enforcement.

Note, in Kelsey Smith's case, when Verizon did provide the ping data to law enforcement, searchers found her body in Missouri within a few hours. So you can see how vital it is that cell phone providers cooperate with law enforcement immediately when an abduction occurs.

From Kelsey's Army.org:

Greg & Missey will present the Kelsey Smith Act in Philadelphia, PA at a conference of state legislators from around the United States. This is the first step in getting Kelsey's Law passed nationwide.