Signed by Governor Jay Inslee

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that amends regulations for police body camera recordings.

Highlights:

• Authorizes an individual directly involved in an incident recorded by a “body worn camera recording,” and his or her attorney, to obtain the recording (Sec. 2).

• Defines “body worn camera recording” as a video or sound recording made by a camera attached to the uniform or eyewear of a law enforcement officer on duty (Sec. 2).

• Requires a law enforcement agency to keep a body worn camera recording for at least 60 days before the recording is destroyed (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits a law enforcement agency from publicly disclosing a body worn camera recording that shows images of a subject including, but not limited to, the following subjects (Sec. 2):
• The interior of a home;
• A deceased individual;
• A patient receiving, recovering from, or waiting for treatment;
• The identity of a victim or witness of sexual assault or domestic abuse; or
• The treatment or waiting area of a medical or counseling facility.

• Requires a request for a body worn camera recording to include the following information (Sec. 2):
• The name of an individual involved;
• The incident or case number;
• The date, time, and location of the incident; or
• The name of a law enforcement officer involved.

• Authorizes a law enforcement agency to require an individual who requests to view a body worn camera recording to pay the cost of redacting, altering, or distorting a portion of the recording, if the individual is not directly involved in the incident recorded (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill expire July, 1, 2019 (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends regulations for police body camera recordings.

Highlights:

• Authorizes an individual directly involved in an incident recorded by a “body worn camera recording,” and his or her attorney, to obtain the recording (Sec. 2).

• Defines “body worn camera recording” as a video or sound recording made by a camera attached to the uniform or eyewear of a law enforcement officer on duty (Sec. 2). 

• Prohibits a law enforcement agency from publicly disclosing a body worn camera recording that shows images of a subject including, but not limited to, the following subjects (Sec. 2):
• The interior of a home;
• A deceased individual;
• The identity of a victim or witness of sexual assault or domestic abuse; or
• The treatment or waiting area of a medical or counseling facility.

• Requires a request for a body worn camera recording to include the following information (Sec. 2):
• The name of an individual involved;
• The incident or case number;
• The date, time, and location of the incident; or
• The name of a law enforcement officer involved.

• Authorizes a law enforcement agency to require an individual who requests to view a body worn camera recording to pay the cost of redacting, altering, or distorting a portion of the recording, if the individual is not directly involved in the incident recorded (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill expire July, 1, 2019 (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text