Legislators will consider a bill establishing a state next-of-kin registry that law enforcement officers could use after a serious accident or other emergency.

“Sometimes law enforcement spends many hours trying to locate a loved one, and time is critical in saving lives,” Sen. Jeremy Miller, R-Winona, said. “The program is entirely voluntary and, under Minnesota’s data privacy laws, only law enforcement and emergency personnel would have access to the information.”

If the bill does not pass out of a committee before Friday’s deadline, it still could be considered next year.