Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that amends regulations for police body camera footage, effective August 1, 2016.

Highlights:

• Classifies data collected by a portable recording system worn by a peace officer as private, with the following exceptions (Sec. 5):
• Data on public personnel;
• Data requested to be made accessible to the public; and
• Data that documents the discharge of a firearm or use of force by an officer that results in serious bodily harm.

• Specifies that data is redacted for private citizens who do not consent to the release and peace officers whose identity is protected (Sec. 5).

• Authorizes a law enforcement agency to redact or withhold data that is “clearly offensive to common sensibilities” (Sec. 5).

• Requires a law enforcement agency to maintain data for the following time periods, before disposing of the data (Sec. 5):
• 90 days, if the data is not part of an active criminal investigation; or
• 1 year, if the data documents the use of force by an officer that results in serious bodily harm or if a formal complaint is made.

• Authorizes an individual to bring an action in the district court in the county where portable recording system data is maintained to authorize disclosure of private data or to challenge a determination to redact data that is “clearly offensive to common sensibilities” (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that amends regulations for police body camera footage, effective August 1, 2016.

Highlights:

• Classifies data collected by a portable recording system worn by a peace officer as private, with the following exceptions (Sec. 5):
• Data on public personnel;
• Data requested to be made accessible to the public; and
• Data that documents the discharge of a firearm or use of force by an officer that results in serious bodily harm.

• Specifies that data is redacted for private citizens who do not consent to the release and peace officers whose identity is protected (Sec. 5).

• Authorizes a law enforcement agency to redact or withhold data that is “clearly offensive to common sensibilities” (Sec. 5).

• Requires a law enforcement agency to maintain data for the following time periods, before disposing of the data (Sec. 5):
• 90 days, if the data is not part of an active criminal investigation; or
• 1 year, if the data documents the use of force by an officer that results in serious bodily harm or if a formal complaint is made.

• Authorizes an individual to bring an action in the district court in the county where portable recording system data is maintained to authorize disclosure of private data or to challenge a determination to redact data that is “clearly offensive to common sensibilities” (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text