Bill > HB2137

This bill, known as the police and citizen protection act, mandates that all state, county, and municipal law enforcement officers primarily assigned to patrol duties must wear and use body cameras to record their activities during traffic stops and other official law enforcement actions, with exceptions for personal matters or when residents of a home request the officer to stop recording under non-emergency circumstances. Officers are required to acknowledge these requirements and policies by signing a waiver, and the bill clarifies that body camera recordings are not subject to laws governing the interception of communications. Furthermore, the use of facial recognition technology with body cameras is prohibited unless authorized by a warrant, and recordings must be retained for at least two weeks, or three years if the recording involves use of force, an arrest, a complaint against an officer, or a specific request for retention or a copy. The bill also establishes procedures for individuals to request copies of recordings and outlines consequences, including a presumption against the law enforcement agency, if a required recording cannot be produced in legal proceedings, while also stating that these recordings are generally confidential and exempt from public records requests until July 1, 2020, unless re-enacted. Finally, law enforcement agencies are encouraged to seek and accept financial assistance to implement these body camera provisions.