Body-worn cameras: policies.

Education Healthcare Labor Privacy

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Wahab
Last action: 2026-06-09
Official status: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (June 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not explicitly mention who will cover the costs or perform redactions.

Body-Worn Cameras: New Rules

This law requires police departments with body-worn cameras to update their policies by July 1, 2027, to include a process for emergency workers to request the removal of parts of video footage showing patients receiving medical or psychological care.

What This Bill Does

Requires police departments to change their rules about body-worn camera recordings by adding new steps.
Allows emergency service workers to request the removal of parts of video footage showing a patient receiving care.
Needs police departments to keep an unedited copy of the recording as well.

Who It Names or Affects

Police departments with body-worn camera policies
Emergency service personnel who deal with patients needing medical or psychological help

Terms To Know

Redaction: The process of removing or covering up parts of a document or video to protect privacy.
State-mandated local program: A program that the state requires local agencies to follow, which might need extra funding from the state.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify exactly how much it will cost or who will do the redaction.
It is unclear what specific details about storage and downloading of recordings are required by existing law.

Bill History

2026-06-09 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (June 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-05-26 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2026-05-04 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2026-01-27 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2026-01-27 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 33. Noes 0. Page 3298.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2026-01-22 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-01-22 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 3269.) (January 22).
2026-01-16 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing January 22.
2026-01-05 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
2025-05-16 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 23.
2025-05-12 California Legislative Information
May 12 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-05-02 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 12.
2025-04-30 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 945.) (April 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-21 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2025-04-11 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 29.
2025-04-02 California Legislative Information
April 8 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
2025-03-27 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 8.
2025-03-05 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2025-02-24 California Legislative Information
Read first time.
2025-02-24 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24.
2025-02-21 California Legislative Information
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

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, 2027, each law enforcement agency that has a body-worn camera policy to update that policy 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.
personnel, and to maintain an unredacted copy of the recording consistent with the policies and procedures of the agency.
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

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF