Body-worn cameras: policies.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not mention any specific financial assistance for local police departments from the state.

Body-Worn Cameras: New Rules

This law requires police departments with body-worn cameras to update their policies by July 1, 2027, to include rules about when officers should stop recording medical or psychological care that could embarrass patients and how emergency workers can ask for parts of recordings to be removed.

What This Bill Does

• Requires police departments to update their body-worn camera policies by a certain date.
• Adds new guidelines on when officers must pause recording during sensitive medical or mental health treatments.
• Includes procedures for emergency service staff to request the removal of embarrassing parts from recordings.

Who It Names or Affects

• Police departments and their officers who use body-worn cameras.
• Emergency medical and mental health workers providing care in sensitive situations.
• Patients receiving emergency medical or psychological treatment.

Terms To Know

Body-Worn Cameras

Cameras that police officers wear on their uniforms to record interactions with the public.

State-Mandated Local Program

A program where the state requires local agencies, like police departments, to follow certain rules or policies.

Limits and Unknowns

• The exact date for updating policies is July 1, 2027.
• It's not clear how much it will cost local police departments to update their policies and procedures.
• The bill does not specify what happens if a department fails to comply with the new rules.

Official Summary Text

SB 691, as amended, Wahab.
Body-worn cameras: policies.
Existing law requires law enforcement agencies, departments, or entities to consider specified best practices regarding the downloading and storage of body-worn camera data, such as specifically stating the length of time that recorded data is to be stored, when establishing policies and procedures for the implementation and operation of a body-worn camera system, as specified.
This bill would require, on or before July 1,
2026,
2027,
each law enforcement agency that has a body-worn camera policy to update that policy
to provide guidance to personnel who wear body-worn cameras regarding the circumstances in which they are required to reasonably and temporarily limit the recording of medical or psychological evaluations, procedures, or treatment performed by emergency service personnel that may cause embarrassment or humiliation to the patient. The bill would also require that policy update
to include a procedure for emergency service personnel to request the redaction of evidentiary
and nonevidentiary
recordings of a patient undergoing medical or psychological evaluation, procedure, or treatment by emergency service personnel.
By requiring local law enforcement agencies to adopt new policies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to
the statutory provisions noted above.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF