HOUSE RESOLUTION 38

(By Delegates Webster, Azinger, Brown, Burdiss, Hamilton, Lane, Long, Miley, Moore, Overington, Proudfoot, Schadler, Shook, Sobonya, Tabb, Varner, Anderson, Argento, Border, Canterbury, Cowles, Ellis, Evans, Fleischauer, Hutchins, Martin, Michael, Moye, Pethtel, Rodighiero, Schoen, Shaver, Spencer, Stagger, Stephens, Swartzmiller, Talbott, Wells, Wysong and Yost)

Recognizing the unique and positive role AmberView provides law enforcement in returning children to the safety of their families.

Whereas, AmberView was launched and began development in Fairmont, West Virginia, on April 1, 2004; and
Whereas, AmberView provides an up-to-date digital image of a missing or abducted child to law enforcement and the news media within minutes of an official Amber Alert; and
Whereas, This biometric-based technology is now available to children ages three through seventeen across West Virginia; and
Whereas, Fifty-four West Virginia county school boards have adopted this voluntary program; and
Whereas, Each year on School Picture Day, a child's digital image is taken and stored in a secure database, accessible only by the West Virginia State Police's Amber Alert coordinator; and
Whereas, In the event of an Amber Alert, AmberView provides law enforcement, news media and citizens, with a recent image of the missing child within minutes; and
Whereas, AmberView has been proven effective, as Harrison County law enforcement officers recently identified and returned a missing child using the AmberView photo; and
Whereas, The police were able to obtain the missing child's AmberView photo within eight minutes of their request; and
Whereas, Amberview has brought far-reaching acclaim to West Virginia-developed technology, having been profiled on NBC's "Today Show," ABC's "Good Morning, America," and in other major broadcasts and publications; and
Whereas, AmberView is sponsored by the National Institute of Justice, embraced by the U.S. Department of Justice, and administered by the West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation; therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Delegates:
That the House of Delegates hereby recognizes the extraordinary and exemplary contributions and national potential of AmberView in working with West Virginia law enforcement in returning children to the safety of their families; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward certified copies of this resolution to Robert Chico, Program Manager of AmberView, Carren Whipkey, AmberView Project Manager, James Estep, President and CEO of the West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation and Bradley DeRoos, Vice President of the Scientific Research Group.