Klobuchar Bill Would Help Police Find Missing Kids

HOPKINS, Minn. (AP) -- U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar has announced legislation that would give local law enforcement a new tool to help find missing children.

The "Access to Information about Missing Children Act" would give local police access to Internal Revenue Service records that they currently can't get.

The U.S. Justice Department says that each year, more than 200,000 missing children cases are the result of family abductions. Klobuchar says family abductors often take on false identities, yet still file tax returns and claim the children as dependents.

Under current law, the IRS can't share any information with police.

The bipartisan legislation would require that police get a federal court order before they can get IRS data.

Klobuchar announced the legislation Sunday with child safety advocate Patty Wetterling and Hopkins police Chief Mike Reynolds.

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WCCO-TV's Liz Collin Reports