WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- Relisha Rudd disappeared two years ago - but by the time police heard about it, they say she'd been missing for weeks.
On Wednesday, investigators searched the National Arboretum, hoping to find a sign of the girl who went missing when she was eight-years-old. But before the search crews arrived, Rudd's name showed up in the D.C. Council.
Councilmembers LaRuby May and Jack Ward introduced a piece of legislation known as the "Relisha Rudd Law."
This three-page bill would make any parent or guardian legally responsible for failing to report a missing child.
If the child is under the age of 12, a parent or guardian would need to report it within 24 hours.
If they're over the age of 13, but not yet 18, they'd need to report it within 48 hours.
Failure to do so would constituent a misdemeanor crime.
The proposal was inspired, at least in part, but a Change.org petition created by Rebecca Taylor in July 2015.
The petition has garnered over 2,000 signatures.
"It's just something about Relisha," Taylor told WUSA9. "It struck everybody. Her story. It struck everybody."
Talyor's petition advocates for charging parents or guardians with a felony if they fail to report a missing child within 24 hours.
It's similar to laws enacted after the 2008 death of two-year-old Caylee Anthony.
"We're talking about missing kids," Taylor said.
"I wanted this to have an impact that we don't have any more Relisha's."
Similar laws, often known as "Caylee's Law" are controversial. Critics said it could lead to a number of problems - from false reports to violating the constitutional rights of parents to unfairly punishing good parents.
Councilmember May says she drafted her legislation with all of that in mind.
"It's intended to look at how we as ... the District of Columbia do better and do more to protect our children," May told WUSA9.
"This is about 'so long as' the child was in their custody. So when a child is away at camp and you didn't know [they were missing]," May explained. "There's a reason that you didn't know for a time period - because the child wasn't in your custody. We sought to address that in this legislation."
Rebecca Taylor says the criticisms don't deter her - and she wants the council to consider legislation that would make the punishment stronger.
"I'm a mom of six children and at every given moment I want to know where my child is at," Taylor said.
"There shouldn't be excuses at all. It's a parents responsibility."
The "Relisha Rudd Law" is currently in committee.
A spokesperson for Mayor Muriel Bowser told WUSA9, "our office is currently reviewing the legislation, but will continue to support policies that move to protect children."
