BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1938

By: Jetton

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

While there are many grants and resources for purchasing body worn police cameras, the cost of storing the footage can be very high. This cost can fluctuate significantly depending on how long the footage is kept and how much officers capture with their cameras. A recent report found that the annual cost for storage for large departments can run from tens of thousands to millions of dollars. H.B. 1938 seeks to help police departments defray these costs by establishing a grant program for that purpose.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1938 amends the Occupations Code to establish a grant program under which a law enforcement agency in Texas that provides body worn cameras to its peace officers may apply to the governor's office for a grant to defray the cost of data storage for recordings created with the cameras. That grant program may be funded by federal funds or by gifts, grants, and donations.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.