Bill > HR9716

This bill, known as the Protecting Rights in Video and Equipment Acquired Discovery Act or the PRIVACY Act, aims to prevent federal law enforcement agencies from bypassing warrant requirements by accessing surveillance data collected by state and local agencies. It mandates the Attorney General to create a "Jurisdictional Wall List" of specific surveillance technologies, such as automated license plate readers and cameras capturing vehicle occupants, which is to be reviewed and updated regularly. Federal agencies are generally prohibited from accessing, querying, or obtaining "covered surveillance data"—data collected by listed state or local technologies—without a warrant from a federal judge. If data is obtained lawfully, federal agencies have strict limitations on how long they can retain it, typically no more than 30 days unless extended by a court or needed for an ongoing prosecution. Violations of these warrant or retention rules can lead to the suppression of the data as evidence in federal court, and the bill also outlines rules for disclosure of such data to defendants. The bill also prohibits federal funding for purchasing or installing technologies on the Jurisdictional Wall List, with specific exceptions for certain highway systems, school violence prevention, and case-specific warrants. Furthermore, it requires semiannual reports to Congress on the use of covered surveillance data and establishes mechanisms for enforcement, including civil actions and administrative sanctions for violations.