Bill > HB1910

This bill establishes regulations for the use of "law enforcement oversight recorders," which are devices that capture video and/or audio, such as body cameras or in-car cameras, to improve oversight of law enforcement conduct while protecting privacy. It defines key terms like "flag" (to mark a recording for potential oversight value), "recording" (audio/video of an incident), "redact" (to obscure identities in a recording), and "use of force" (any physical coercion by an officer). The bill mandates that these recorders continuously record while officers are on duty, except during specific personal breaks or restroom use unrelated to law enforcement. Officers must inform individuals when they are being recorded, unless exigent circumstances prevent it. Recordings are to be stored in a system that allows for searching and segregation of specific incidents, and they are exclusively for investigating potential misconduct, with limited disclosure to supervisors, investigators, and prosecutors. Recordings can be "flagged" if they involve use of force, a complaint, or a request from a subject or another person with specific reasons to believe misconduct occurred; flagged recordings are retained for three years or longer if an investigation is ongoing, while unflagged recordings are kept for 60-75 days. Flagged recordings are subject to public disclosure, while unflagged recordings are confidential unless all subjects consent. The bill also requires biennial audits of the recorder program by an independent entity and amends existing laws to align with these new provisions, particularly regarding what information is exempt from public disclosure.