Bill > HB1718

This bill mandates that correctional officers at specific correctional facilities, defined as adult facilities on public property housing inmates under the department of correction's custody and operated by a prison contractor in certain metropolitan counties, must use body cameras at all times when on duty and interacting or potentially interacting with inmates, with the camera recording continuously. The prison contractor is responsible for the costs of these cameras, data storage, and maintenance, and must promptly send footage to the department of correction. The department will then review footage for any suspected unlawful or abusive incidents, with reviews completed within five business days of an investigation, and transmit relevant recordings to the district attorney general within 48 hours of review if they indicate potential legal issues, or provide them to any prosecuting authority upon request. Body camera recordings are generally confidential and not public record, but can be released to law enforcement, prosecuting authorities, or through court orders, with protective orders to limit disclosure. This new requirement is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and the entire part of the law establishing these provisions will be repealed on July 1, 2027.