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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a law enforcement agency's release of a recording |
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captured by a body worn camera. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1701.660, Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1701.660. PRESERVATION OF RECORDINGS AS EVIDENCE. A |
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[(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a] recording created |
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with a body worn camera and documenting an incident that involves |
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the use of deadly force by a peace officer or that is otherwise |
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related to an administrative or criminal investigation of an |
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officer may not be deleted or [,] destroyed[, or released to the
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public] until all criminal matters have been finally adjudicated |
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and all related administrative investigations have concluded. |
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[(b)
A law enforcement agency may release to the public a
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recording described by Subsection (a) if the law enforcement agency
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determines that the release furthers a law enforcement purpose.
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[(c)
This section does not affect the authority of a law
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enforcement agency to withhold under Section 552.108, Government
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Code, information related to a closed criminal investigation that
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did not result in a conviction or a grant of deferred adjudication
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community supervision.] |
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SECTION 2. Section 1701.661, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows: |
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(b-1) Before releasing to a member of the public a recording |
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captured by a body worn camera, a law enforcement agency shall |
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obscure or alter relevant portions of the video or audio recording |
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so that only law enforcement officers are identifiable on the |
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recording. The person requesting the recording is responsible for |
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the costs of obscuring or altering the recording under this |
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subsection. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies to a |
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recording released on or after the effective date of this Act, |
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regardless of whether the recording was created before, on, or |
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after that date. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |