Senate approves ‘Francine’s Law’; vote comes during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

The full Senate has approved a bill aimed at helping law enforcement and families find answers in missing and unidentified persons cases. House Bill 2640, Francine’s Law, was approved unanimously by the full Senate on Monday. Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, is principal Senate author of Francine’s Law, which was co-authored by Sen. Stephanie Bice, R-Oklahoma City, and Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, with House principal author, Rep. Rhonda Baker, R-Yukon.

“The bill is named for Francine Frost, of Tulsa. Her family never quit looking for her after she went missing in 1981. More than three and a half decades later, remains that had been discovered two years after she was abducted were finally identified as hers, thanks to the determination of Francine’s family and the NamUS database,” Daniels said. “If this measure had been the law years ago, her case could have been solved sooner. I want to thank the Frost family for their strength and perseverance in helping bring this legislation forward.”

Daniels said the bill would require law enforcement, medical examiners and coroners to enter all missing and unidentified persons information into NamUs, which provides free forensic services, including forensic odontology, fingerprint examination, forensic anthropology, and DNA analyses through the UNT Center for Human Identification. Family DNA collection kits are also provided at no cost. Daniels said the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office, the Medical Examiner’s Office and CLEET, the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training, collaborated on the language of the bill.

Several members of the Frost family watched from the Senate Gallery as Francine’s Law was approved. Francine’s husband, Malcolm Frost, daughter, Vicki Frost Curl, and grandson, Cory Curl, embraced after the Senate approved the legislation.

“It’s an overwhelming feeling. We are extremely grateful and appreciative to the Oklahoma State Legislature, to Representative Rhonda Baker, Senator Julie Daniels, all the coauthors of this bill, that they have understood and seen the importance to a missing persons family, the impact this bill will have,” said Vicki Frost Curl, Francine’s daughter.

The legislation now goes to Governor Kevin Stitt for his signature.

“It was an honor to author this legislation on behalf of Francine Frost’s family,” Baker said. “It is my desire to save other families the agony of waiting years to know the fate of their loved one. I believe this law will help.”