New York lawmakers want all the state's medical examiners and coroners to share fingerprints and other information about their unidentified dead with a federal data center trying to match remains with America's missing.
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System already has profiles of 1,293 unnamed New York dead that were submitted voluntarily. They are among more than 13,000 filed nationally since the database opened a decade ago.
The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner contributes already. It handles the majority of cases statewide.
Sponsors say the recently passed legislation would ensure all counties participate, increasing the probability remains will be identified and helping families with closure.
New York's coroners and medical examiners already are required to send fingerprints to the state's Division of Criminal Justice Services.
© 2016 Associated Press
