Bill > S0616

This bill requires members of the Florida Highway Patrol to wear and use body cameras during law enforcement activities, establishing comprehensive guidelines for body camera implementation. The bill defines a body camera as a portable electronic device that records audio and video during an officer's official duties and mandates that officers keep their cameras activated during law enforcement encounters, traffic stops, pursuits, arrests, and any situation that could potentially become the subject of an investigation or complaint. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles must develop written policies for body camera use, ensure compliance with public records retention requirements, and provide training to officers on appropriate body camera usage. The department is authorized to contract with third-party vendors for secure cloud-based data storage of recordings and may discipline officers who do not comply with the new requirements. The bill also amends existing statutes to specifically exclude the Florida Highway Patrol from certain previous definitions of law enforcement agencies and officers. To support implementation, the bill appropriates $2 million from the General Revenue Fund for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to cover body camera purchases, maintenance, storage, officer training, and data storage. The legislation is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/616