84R2663 JSC-F
 
  By: Johnson H.B. No. 455
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a body worn camera program for certain law enforcement
  agencies in this state.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter P to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER P. BODY WORN CAMERA PROGRAM
         Sec. 411.441.  DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "body worn
  camera" means a recording device that is:
               (1)  capable of recording, or transmitting to be
  recorded remotely, video or audio; and
               (2)  worn on the person of a peace officer, which
  includes being attached to the officer's clothing or worn as
  glasses.
         Sec. 411.442.  GRANTS FOR BODY WORN CAMERAS. A law
  enforcement agency in this state shall apply to the department for a
  grant to equip officers with body worn cameras if the agency employs
  officers who:
               (1)  are engaged in traffic or highway patrol or
  otherwise regularly stop or detain motor vehicles; or
               (2)  respond to calls for assistance from the public.
         Sec. 411.443.  BODY WORN CAMERA POLICY. (a)  A law
  enforcement agency that receives a grant from the department to
  provide body worn cameras to its officers or that otherwise
  operates a body worn camera program shall adopt a policy for the use
  of body worn cameras.
         (b)  A policy described by Subsection (a) must include:
               (1)  guidelines for when an officer should activate a
  camera or discontinue a recording currently in progress,
  considering the need for privacy in certain situations; and
               (2)  provisions relating to data retention, storage of
  video and audio, creation of backup copies of the video and audio,
  and maintenance of data security.
         (c)  A policy adopted under this section must be consistent
  with the Federal Rules of Evidence and Texas Rules of Evidence.
         Sec. 411.444.  TRAINING. (a) Before a law enforcement
  agency may operate a body worn camera program, the agency must
  provide training to:
               (1)  officers who will wear the body worn cameras; and
               (2)  any other personnel who will come into contact
  with video and audio data obtained from the use of body worn
  cameras.
         (b)  The department, in consultation with the Texas
  Commission on Law Enforcement, the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement
  Management Institute of Texas, the W. W. Caruth, Jr., Police
  Institute at Dallas, and the Texas Police Chiefs Association, shall
  develop the curriculum for a training program under this section.
         Sec. 411.445.  RECORDING INTERACTIONS WITH THE PUBLIC. (a)
  An officer equipped with a body worn camera shall activate the
  camera when responding to calls for assistance and when performing
  other law enforcement activities, including traffic stops,
  pursuits, arrests, searches, or interrogations, unless activation
  of the camera would be unsafe, unrealistic, or impracticable.
         (b)  An officer equipped with a body worn camera may choose
  not to activate a camera or may choose to discontinue a recording
  currently in progress for any nonconfrontational encounter with a
  person, including an interview of a witness or victim. 
         Sec. 411.446.  PROHIBITED ACTS. (a)  An officer on duty may
  not use a body worn camera that is not issued and maintained by the
  law enforcement agency that employs the officer.
         (b)  A person may not tamper with, delete, or make an
  unauthorized copy of data obtained through the use of a body worn
  camera under this subchapter.
         (c)  A person may not release a recording created with a body
  worn camera under this subchapter unless the person first obtains
  the permission of the applicable law enforcement agency.
         Sec. 411.447.  RECORDINGS AS EVIDENCE.  A recording created
  with a body worn camera and documenting an incident that involves
  the use of deadly force or that is otherwise the subject of an
  investigation may not be deleted or destroyed or released to the
  public before the completion of the investigation into the
  incident.
         Sec. 411.448.  RIGHTS OF OFFICERS. An officer is entitled to
  access any recording of an incident involving the officer before
  making a statement about the incident.
         SECTION 2.  (a) The Department of Public Safety, in
  consultation with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, the Bill
  Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas, the W. W.
  Caruth, Jr., Police Institute at Dallas, and the Texas Police
  Chiefs Association, shall develop the curriculum for the training
  program required under Section 411.444, Government Code, as added
  by this Act, not later than January 1, 2016.
         (b)  A law enforcement agency that is operating a body worn
  camera program on the effective date of this Act shall develop and
  implement the policy required under Section 411.443, Government
  Code, as added by this Act, and implement the training program
  required under Section 411.444, Government Code, as added by this
  Act, not later than September 1, 2016.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.