Bill Text: FL S0108 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Lowell Correctional Institution Body Cameras Pilot Program

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2024-03-08 - Died in Criminal Justice [S0108 Detail]

Download: Florida-2024-S0108-Introduced.html

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       Florida Senate - 2024                                     SB 108
       
       
        
       By Senator Jones
       
       
       
       
       
       34-00280-24                                            2024108__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the Lowell Correctional Institution
    3         Body Cameras Pilot Program; creating s. 944.145, F.S.;
    4         creating the pilot program within the Department of
    5         Corrections; providing the purpose of the pilot
    6         program; defining terms; requiring that each
    7         correctional officer working at the Lowell
    8         Correctional Institution wear a body camera while
    9         acting within the scope of his or her official duties;
   10         requiring the department to establish policies and
   11         procedures for the proper use, maintenance, and
   12         storage of such body cameras and for data recorded by
   13         such body cameras; providing minimum requirements for
   14         such policies and procedures; requiring the department
   15         to provide training on body camera policies and
   16         procedures; requiring that audio and video data
   17         recorded by such cameras be maintained in accordance
   18         with public records laws; requiring the department to
   19         submit annual reports beginning on a certain date;
   20         providing report requirements; providing for
   21         expiration of the pilot program; providing an
   22         effective date.
   23          
   24  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   25  
   26         Section 1. Section 944.145, Florida Statutes, is created to
   27  read:
   28         944.145 Lowell Correctional Institution Body Cameras Pilot
   29  Program.—
   30         (1) The Lowell Correctional Institution Body Cameras Pilot
   31  Program is created within the department for 3 years. The
   32  purpose of the pilot program is to ensure safety and provide
   33  accountability for inmates and staff within the institution.
   34         (2) As used in this section, the term:
   35         (a) “Body camera” means a portable electronic recording
   36  device that is worn on a correctional officer’s person and that
   37  records audio and video data of the officer’s prisoner-related
   38  encounters and activities.
   39         (b) “Correctional officer” has the same meaning as in s.
   40  943.10(2).
   41         (3) Each correctional officer working at the Lowell
   42  Correctional Institution shall wear a body camera while acting
   43  within the scope of his or her official duties. The department
   44  shall establish policies and procedures addressing the proper
   45  use, maintenance, and storage of such body cameras and of the
   46  data recorded by such body cameras. The policies and procedures
   47  must, at a minimum, include all of the following:
   48         (a) General guidelines for the proper use, maintenance, and
   49  storage of body cameras.
   50         (b) Any limitations on a correctional officer’s use of the
   51  body cameras.
   52         (c) Any limitations on prisoner-related encounters and
   53  activities during which correctional officers are authorized to
   54  wear body cameras.
   55         (d) A provision allowing a correctional officer using a
   56  body camera to review the recorded footage from the body camera,
   57  upon his or her own initiative or request, before writing a
   58  report or providing a statement regarding any event arising
   59  within the scope of his or her official duties. Any such
   60  provision may not apply to an officer’s inherent duty to
   61  immediately disclose information necessary to secure an active
   62  crime scene or to identify suspects or witnesses.
   63         (e) General guidelines for the proper storage, retention,
   64  and release of audio and video data recorded by body cameras.
   65         (4) The department shall:
   66         (a) Ensure that all personnel at the Lowell Correctional
   67  Institution who wear, use, maintain, or store body cameras are
   68  trained in the department’s policies and procedures concerning
   69  the body cameras.
   70         (b) Ensure that all personnel at the Lowell Correctional
   71  Institution who use, maintain, store, or release audio or video
   72  data recorded by body cameras are trained in the department’s
   73  policies and procedures.
   74         (c) Retain all audio and video data recorded by body
   75  cameras in accordance with the requirements of s. 119.021,
   76  except as otherwise provided by law.
   77         (d) Perform a periodic review of body camera practices to
   78  ensure conformity with the department’s policies and procedures.
   79         (5) Beginning on June 30, 2025, and annually thereafter,
   80  the department shall submit a report to the Governor, the
   81  President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the
   82  Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Minority Leader
   83  of the House of Representatives on the operation of the program
   84  during the previous year. The report must, at a minimum, include
   85  findings based on the review of incidents at the Lowell
   86  Correctional Institution and the effectiveness of the body
   87  cameras worn by correctional officers, proposals on changes to
   88  existing policies and procedures, and any other information that
   89  the department deems important in furthering the purpose of the
   90  pilot program.
   91         (6) This section expires June 30, 2027.
   92         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.