None by Governor Dan McKee

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes a statewide program for police body-warn cameras.

Highlights:

• Defines “attorney general” as the attorney general of the state of Rhode Island, or designee (Sec. 1).

• Defines “body-worn camera” as a video and audio recording device that is carried by, or worn on the body of, a law enforcement officer and that is capable of recording the actions and interactions of the officer and the public (Sec. 1).

• Defines “director of the department of public safety” as the director of public safety appointed by the governor pursuant to §42-7.3-5, or designee (Sec. 1).

• Defines “public safety grant administration office” as the public safety grant administration office as defined in chapter 26 of title 42 (Sec. 1).

• Defines “state-supported implementation period” to mean a period of 5 years beginning on July 1, 2021 and ending on June 30, 2026 (Sec. 1).

• Establishes that the director of the department of public safety is authorized, within available funds, to award grants and other forms of funding to facilitate the adoption of body-worn cameras by Rhode Island police departments, as well as coordinate state applications for federal funds available for body-worn camera adoption (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the director of the department of public safety may, in coordination with the department of administration, facilitate body-worn camera procurement by Rhode Island police departments through state master price agreement contracts in accordance with § 37-2-56 (Sec. 1).

• Establishes that the attorney general and the director of the department of public safety, in consultation with the Rhode Island police chiefs' association, is responsible for developing statewide policies, procedures, and guidelines for the use and operation of body-worn cameras (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the attorney general and the director of the department of public safety, in consultation with the Rhode Island police chiefs' association, may survey and assess police department body-worn camera needs, evaluate body-worn camera solutions and budgetary costs, and facilitate the provision of technical assistance for Rhode Island police departments adopting body-worn cameras (Sec. 1).

• Establishes that all appropriations in support of provisions of this chapter shall be housed within the department of public safety (Sec. 1).

• Establishes that no money appropriated in the state budget shall be awarded for Rhode Island police department body-worn camera expenses incurred before or after the state-supported implementation period (Sec. 1).

• Establishes that no money appropriated in the state budget shall be distributed for Rhode Island police department body-worn camera expenses before rules and regulations are promulgated pursuant to § 42-160-4 (Sec. 1).

• Requires that the director of the department of public safety in consultation with the attorney general shall promulgate rules and regulations, pursuant to chapter 35 of title 42 of the general laws, to develop the criteria and manner in which funds are awarded to Rhode Island police departments under this chapter (Sec. 1).

• Requires that the attorney general and the director of the department of public safety, in consultation with the Rhode Island police chiefs' association, shall promulgate rules and regulations, pursuant to chapter 35 of title 42 of the general laws, after holding a public hearing, to create a policy for the use and operation of body-worn cameras (Sec. 1).

• Requires that the above mentioned policy address, at a minimum, the following (Sec. 1):

• Proper use of equipment;

• Data and equipment security;

• Activation and deactivation of cameras;

• Notification to the public of recording;

• Records retention procedures and timelines;

• Access to data by law enforcement and the public;

• Privacy protections, including redaction procedures; and

• Compliance monitoring.

• Establishes that the public safety grant administration office is to condition the award of money under this chapter on the certification of a police chief, or highest ranking sworn member of a law enforcement agency, that the certifying chief’s department has adopted the policy referenced in §42-160-4(b) (Sec. 1).

• Requires that the director of the department of public safety publish a report on the funding of the statewide body-worn camera program within 60 days following the end of each fiscal year that includes the following (Sec. 1):

• Information on the commitment pursuant to this chapter;

• Information on the disbursement pursuant to this chapter; and

• Information on the use of funds pursuant to this chapter. 

• Requires that the director of the department of public safety provides a copy of the aforementioned report to the governor, attorney general, speaker of the house and senate president (Sec. 1).

• Establishes that this act is to take effect upon passage (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text