Murphy introduces Billy's Law

Hartford (WTNH) - The family of a missing Connecticut man joined Connecticut Representative Chris Murphy in announced the introduction of Billy's Law on Thursday morning.

The law is named for Billy Smolinski who went missing nearly five years ago. At the time, the family asked that he be reported as a missing person.

But Federal law mandates police only report missing children, not adults or unidentified bodies.

Congressman Murphy says Billy's Law will help close those gaps.

"Nobody should have to go through what the Smolinskis have gone through," Murphy said in a news release. "The systems we have in place now for law enforcement and medical examiners to use to help families find their loved ones don't talk to each other. That's inexcusable, and so the bill I am introducing fixes that problem, once and for all."

Jan Smolinski, Billy's mother, tells News Channel 8 that Billy's Law "brings a real sense of hope that good will come out of a bad situation, possibly save lives and put a name to the namesless."

The Smolinski family has since gotten their son listed in the US Department of Justice's National Missing and Unidentified Persons System and police are actively working on the case.