Connecticut Senate Bill SB00798

Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/21/25
• Refer: 1/21/25

Caption

An Act Authorizing Redaction Fees For Disclosure Of Police Records Of Body-worn Recording Equipment Or Dashboard Cameras.

Impact

The bill, if enacted, will have significant implications on how police records are handled in terms of transparency and access. Currently, the absence of a specified redaction fee can lead to inconsistencies across different jurisdictions when handling requests for audio and video recordings. By authorizing a standard fee for redaction, SB00798 will standardize practices and provide public agencies with a clear guideline on how to manage costs associated with the redaction process. Additionally, this could deter frivolous or excessive requests for records that require extensive redaction, promoting a more efficient system in handling public information requests.

Summary

SB00798 aims to amend existing state statutes to allow public agencies to impose redaction fees for disclosing police records obtained from body-worn cameras or dashboard cameras when these records contain data that is not legally authorized for public disclosure. The purpose of this bill is to address the management of sensitive data while balancing the public's right to access police recordings. It seeks to clarify the financial aspects of the redaction process, thereby formalizing a procedure that can potentially influence how police data is released to the public.

Contention

There is potential contention around the implementation of redaction fees, as critics may view this as a barrier to access information. Advocates for transparency argue that imposing fees could deter citizens from requesting important police records, ultimately undermining the intent to promote governmental transparency. Furthermore, the bill raises the question of whether the cost associated with redaction should fall on the public agencies or the requestors, as this could lead to disparities in access based on individuals' ability to pay these fees.