Bill > H1643

This bill proposes to protect the privacy of individuals who call 911 emergency services by establishing specific rules about the handling of audio recordings and written transcripts. Under the proposed law, the audio recording of a 911 call would be considered private data for the individual making the call, with only written transcripts being considered public. A transcript would be prepared upon request, and the person requesting it would need to pay the actual transcription costs. While the audio recording would be restricted, it could be shared with law enforcement for investigative purposes or used for public safety and emergency medical services training. The bill would prohibit releasing the audio recording without the express written consent of the caller or a court order that determines the public's right to the recording outweighs the caller's privacy interests. The proposed privacy protections would not apply to law enforcement personnel investigating a case where the 911 call might be relevant to their investigation. This legislation aims to balance individual privacy with the potential public interest and operational needs of emergency services.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1643