Bill > HB0741

This bill establishes comprehensive regulations for body cameras used by law enforcement officers in Tennessee, requiring agencies that use body cameras to develop detailed written policies governing their use. The legislation mandates that only officers with arrest and search authority can wear body cameras, and they must receive specific training before use. The policy must include guidelines for camera placement, activation requirements (such as turning on cameras when responding to calls or initiating public encounters), and notification to subjects that they are being recorded. The bill includes important exceptions for privacy, such as allowing individuals in private residences or crime victims to request that cameras be turned off. The law also establishes strict retention rules for recordings, generally requiring six-month deletion for most recordings, but mandating three-year retention for recordings involving use of force, felony arrests, or specific complaints. Additionally, the bill prohibits using body cameras to gather intelligence about First Amendment-protected activities and sets clear consequences for improper camera use, including potential disciplinary action against officers and evidentiary presumptions that could benefit criminal defendants or civil plaintiffs if recordings are improperly handled or destroyed. The legislation aims to balance transparency in law enforcement with individual privacy rights and ensure accountability in body camera usage.

Government Affairs, Labor and Employment

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB0741&ga=114