Georgia 2023-2024 Regular Session

Georgia House Bill HB1245 Compare Versions

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11 24 LC 28 0616
22 House Bill 1245
33 By: Representatives Cummings of the 39
44 th
55 , Smith of the 18
66 th
77 , Vance of the 133
88 rd
99 , Crowe of
1010 the 118
1111 th
1212 , and Neal of the 79
1313 th
1414
1515 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1616 AN ACT
1717 To amend Chapter 1 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
1818 1
1919 general provisions regarding law enforcement officers and agencies, so as to provide for2
2020 definitions; to provide for legislative intent and findings; to provide for the use and3
2121 limitations of use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement agencies in this state;4
2222 to provide for procedures for the use of such software; to provide for certain prohibitions; to5
2323 provide for requests for assistance to other law enforcement agencies; to provide for certain6
2424 releases and indemnities with regard to such requests for assistance; to provide for certain7
2525 auditing; to provide for violations and penalties; to provide for related matters; to repeal8
2626 conflicting laws; and for other purposes.9
2727 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:10
2828 SECTION 1.11
2929 Chapter 1 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general12
3030 provisions regarding law enforcement officers and agencies, is amended by adding a new13
3131 Code section to read as follows:14
3232 "35-1-24.
3333 15
3434 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:16
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3737 (1) 'Candidate list' means one or more facial images from a facial recognition search17
3838 using facial recognition software.18
3939 (2) 'Facial recognition repository' means a location or data base, digital or otherwise, in19
4040 which facial images are collected and stored for comparison during a facial recognition20
4141 search.21
4242 (3) 'Facial recognition search' means an automated process of matching facial images22
4343 utilizing algorithms and biometric scanning technologies.23
4444 (4) 'Facial recognition software' means computer programs that use algorithms and24
4545 biometric scanning technologies to compare and match facial images with a probe image.25
4646 (5) 'Facial recognition specialist' means a person trained and authorized to use facial26
4747 recognition software and whose duty it is to conduct facial recognition searches.27
4848 (6) 'Likely candidate' means a specific image contained within a candidate list depicting28
4949 the face of a person which, when combined with a human-based facial comparison,29
5050 depicts sufficient similarities or attributes to warrant further investigation and peer30
5151 review.31
5252 (7) 'Peer review' means an additional layer of verification of facial recognition results by32
5353 which another facial recognition specialist conducts an independent probe image search33
5454 using a blind review.34
5555 (8) 'Probe image' means any facial image used by facial recognition software for35
5656 comparison with the facial images contained in the facial recognition repository or36
5757 repositories used by the facial recognition software.37
5858 (b)(1) It is the policy of the State of Georgia that facial recognition software be used by38
5959 law enforcement agencies only for the purposes of identifying persons involved in39
6060 criminal cases, other special law enforcement related purposes, and in the support of40
6161 public welfare.41
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6464 (2) The State of Georgia continually seeks to balance the use of technology-based42
6565 investigative tools against privacy concerns to ensure that the constitutional rights and the43
6666 safety of all individuals are both protected.44
6767 (3) Facial recognition software is intended to assist law enforcement officers and45
6868 agencies with identifying criminal actors while ensuring that improper or incorrect visual46
6969 identification does not lead to the arrest or prosecution of an innocent individual. It is47
7070 intended to provide investigators with tools to develop possible suspects in crimes based48
7171 upon similarities in facial characteristics.49
7272 (4) Facial recognition searches may be used as an item of evidence in a criminal50
7373 investigation. However, it is the obligation of the law enforcement officer and agency51
7474 to ensure that the necessary level of additional supporting evidence exists to establish52
7575 needed legal standards to pursue criminal charges. Facial recognition searches may also53
7676 be used by law enforcement officers and agencies to support public welfare and medical54
7777 related events to assist with the identification of individuals.55
7878 (c) Law enforcement officers in criminal cases shall seek corroborating evidence on any56
7979 person identified after receiving the results of a facial recognition search of a probe image57
8080 on facial recognition software authorized by the agency employing the law enforcement58
8181 officer. Such corroborating evidence should independently support probable cause for59
8282 criminal charges. Law enforcement officers who are authorized to use facial recognition60
8383 data bases shall only do so through a facial recognition specialist authorized to perform61
8484 such facial recognition searches by the agency by which the law enforcement officer is62
8585 employed and shall use only lawfully acquired facial images for use as probe images and63
8686 shall use only agency-authorized facial recognition repositories containing lawfully64
8787 acquired facial images and publicly available image galleries.65
8888 (d) Uses for which law enforcement officers and agencies may conduct facial recognition66
8989 searches are to assist in:67
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9292 (1) Identifying an individual when there is a reasonable suspicion that the individual has68
9393 committed, is committing, or is planning the commission of a crime;69
9494 (2) Identifying a crime victim, including a victim of online sexual abuse material;70
9595 (3) Identifying a victim of human trafficking or an individual involved in the trafficking71
9696 of humans, weapons, drugs, or wildlife;72
9797 (4) Identifying a person that may be a missing person;73
9898 (5) Identifying a person who is suffering from an inability to communicate and be74
9999 understood as the result of an apparent mental or physical disability;75
100100 (6) Identifying a deceased person;76
101101 (7) Identifying a person who is incapacitated or otherwise unable to identify himself or77
102102 herself;78
103103 (8) Identifying an individual who is lawfully detained; and79
104104 (9) Mitigating an imminent threat to public safety or a significant threat to life, including80
105105 acts of terrorism.81
106106 Any result from a facial recognition search shall be used only as a guide for further82
107107 investigation.83
108108 (e) Each law enforcement agency desiring to utilize facial recognition software and do84
109109 facial recognition searches shall first adopt in writing the use of such facial recognition85
110110 software and establish standard operating procedures for the agency in the use of such86
111111 software.87
112112 (f) The standard operating procedure for use of facial recognition software and searches88
113113 shall include procedures that cover the following requirements:89
114114 (1) A law enforcement agency shall prior to authorizing the use of facial recognition90
115115 software ensure that the facial recognition specialist who will operate the facial91
116116 recognition software has satisfactorily completed agency approved training in the use of92
117117 such software; shall assign each such facial recognition specialist a unique username and93
118118 H. B. 1245
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120120 password for the use of such facial recognition software; and shall ensure that only94
121121 authorized persons use such facial recognition software;95
122122 (2) When using facial recognition software, the facial recognition specialist shall:96
123123 (A) Use the facial recognition software only for official and legitimate law97
124124 enforcement business;98
125125 (B) Log in using the username and password assigned such specialist;99
126126 (C) Record the case number in the incident report and, if applicable, in the100
127127 investigative data base;101
128128 (D) Record the legitimate law enforcement reason or basis for the search in the incident102
129129 report and, if applicable, in the investigative data base;103
130130 (E) Only utilize probe images that have been collected in accordance with state and104
131131 federal law;105
132132 (F) Only use facial recognition software that is approved and authorized by the law106
133133 enforcement agency; and107
134134 (G) Ensure that each member of the law enforcement agency who submits a request108
135135 for a facial recognition search correctly documents such request and the results of such109
136136 search, whether such search results in any investigative leads or not, in the incident110
137137 report; and111
138138 (3) All facial recognition searches to attempt to identify an unidentified suspect in a112
139139 criminal investigation shall be performed in the following sequence and manner:113
140140 (A) A facial recognition search shall be performed by a facial recognition specialist114
141141 using a probe image of the unidentified suspect utilizing a facial recognition repository115
142142 and facial recognition software approved by the law enforcement agency;116
143143 (B) Following a facial recognition search which yields a candidate list of likely117
144144 candidates, a human-based facial comparison shall be made of the persons in the118
145145 candidate list;119
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148148 (C) In addition, a peer review of the likely candidates on the candidate list shall be120
149149 made;121
150150 (D) Following the human-based facial comparison and peer review of the candidates122
151151 on the candidate list, investigations shall be made of the likely candidates to reveal123
152152 corroborating or exculpatory evidence;124
153153 (E) Prior to pursuing criminal charges or warrants in a matter under investigation in125
154154 which a facial recognition search was made, a superior officer shall review the case to126
155155 ensure that procedures were followed and there is sufficient evidence to seek warrants127
156156 for the suspect; and128
157157 (F) The evidence shall be submitted to the proper judge for review prior to the issuance129
158158 of any warrants.130
159159 (g) No person on behalf of a law enforcement agency or law enforcement officer in this131
160160 state shall connect any facial recognition software to any interface that performs live video132
161161 surveillance, including, but not limited to, surveillance cameras, drone cameras, and133
162162 body-worn cameras. This subsection shall not however preclude the use of still images or134
163163 snapshots from being captured from video streams and used as probe images for a facial135
164164 recognition search.136
165165 (h) No facial recognition software shall be utilized by or on behalf of any law enforcement137
166166 agency or law enforcement officer on live stream or recorded video of the general public138
167167 or for surveillance of the general public.139
168168 (i) The use of force to capture a person's image for a probe image in a facial recognition140
169169 search shall be illegal.141
170170 (j) Only facial recognition software that is approved by the law enforcement agency in142
171171 writing shall be used for facial recognition searches. It shall be illegal for law enforcement143
172172 agencies and law enforcement officers to use facial recognition software that is obtained144
173173 through a complimentary pilot program, demonstration program, personal account, or trial145
174174 period in any law enforcement investigation.146
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177177 (k) Access to the facial recognition software of a law enforcement agency by another law147
178178 enforcement agency shall require a written request for assistance from a supervisory level148
179179 official of the requesting law enforcement agency which shall be reviewed and approved149
180180 by a supervisory level official of the law enforcement agency to which the request is made. 150
181181 The requesting law enforcement agency shall submit with the request for access to facial151
182182 recognition services a signed interagency agreement or memorandum of understanding152
183183 which acknowledges that:153
184184 (1) The requesting law enforcement agency agrees to comply with all provisions of law154
185185 regarding the conduct and use of facial recognition software and searches;155
186186 (2) The requesting law enforcement agency acknowledges that the results from a facial156
187187 recognition search shall not be considered as a positive identification of any person;157
188188 (3) The requesting law enforcement agency will use the facial recognition software and158
189189 searches for legitimate law enforcement purposes only which shall be limited to the159
190190 identification of suspects in criminal investigations, the identification of persons unable160
191191 to identify themselves, and other purposes specifically authorized by the law enforcement161
192192 agency to which the request is made;162
193193 (4) Facial recognition software shall not be used for surveillance or tracking purposes;163
194194 (5) The requesting law enforcement agency shall not utilize the results of a facial164
195195 recognition search alone for the purpose of establishing an articulable suspicion for an165
196196 investigatory stop of an individual, probable cause for an arrest, or probable cause for a166
197197 search warrant. The requesting agency shall pursue criminal charges against an167
198198 individual identified by a facial recognition search only when there is corroborating168
199199 evidence creating probable cause to believe that such individual committed a crime;169
200200 (6) The requesting law enforcement agency shall use facial recognition software in170
201201 accordance with federal and state statutory and constitutional law and in accordance with171
202202 the requirements and procedures of the agency to which the request is made;172
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205205 (7) The results and any other information obtained as a result of a facial recognition173
206206 search will be kept confidential except as disclosure is otherwise permitted by law and174
207207 will be held and purged in accordance with the retention policy of the requesting agency;175
208208 and176
209209 (8) The probe images which are submitted by the requesting law enforcement agency177
210210 were lawfully obtained and do not violate the privacy rights, publicity rights, copyrights,178
211211 contract rights, intellectual property rights, or any other rights of any person and that the179
212212 use of the probe images in conjunction with a facial recognition search using the facial180
213213 recognition software of the law enforcement agency to which the request is made will not181
214214 result in a breach of contract between the requesting law enforcement agency and any182
215215 third party.183
216216 (l) A law enforcement agency which requests access to the facial recognition software of184
217217 another law enforcement agency which request is granted shall be deemed to have released185
218218 the governing authority of the law enforcement agency to which the request is made, the186
219219 members of the governing authority, the governmental entity, the law enforcement agency187
220220 to which the request is made, and all officers, elected officials, employees, agents,188
221221 volunteers, and representatives of such governmental entity and law enforcement agency,189
222222 both in their individual and representative capacities, from any responsibility or liability190
223223 for any actions, causes of actions, claims, demands, costs, liabilities, expenses, or damages191
224224 which are in any way connected to the information provided by the law enforcement192
225225 agency to which the request for use of facial recognition software was made or any loss or193
226226 damage arising from, or allegedly arising from, the information provided by the law194
227227 enforcement agency to which the request for use of facial recognition software was made. 195
228228 This release shall not apply to any claims arising from intentional misconduct on the part196
229229 of the law enforcement agency or any of its personnel to which the request for use of facial197
230230 recognition software is made.198
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233233 (m) By requesting access to the facial recognition software of another law enforcement199
234234 agency, the requesting law enforcement agency shall be deemed to have agreed to defend200
235235 and hold harmless the law enforcement agency to which the request was made, the201
236236 governing authority of the law enforcement agency to which the request is made, the202
237237 members of the governing authority, the governmental entity, and all officers, elected203
238238 officials, employees, agents, volunteers, and representatives, both in their individual and204
239239 representative capacities, from any and all claims and liability for damages, property205
240240 damages, and personal injuries or damages, including death, judgments, causes of action,206
241241 liens, costs, and legal expenses, including attorney fees, in any way connected to or207
242242 stemming from the information provided by the law enforcement agency to which the208
243243 request was made for a facial recognition search to the requesting agency. In addition, the209
244244 requesting law enforcement agency shall also indemnify and hold harmless the law210
245245 enforcement agency to which the request for a facial recognition search was made and the211
246246 other parties identified in this subsection from and against all claims, actions, suits,212
247247 proceedings, losses, damages, costs, and expenses, including attorney fees, arising out of213
248248 or resulting from, directly or indirectly, any failure of the requesting agency to comply with214
249249 the provisions of this Code section and the interagency agreement or memorandum of215
250250 understanding regarding the use of facial recognition software or the conduct of facial216
251251 recognition searches pursuant to such agreement or memorandum.217
252252 (n) Any law enforcement agency utilizing facial recognition software shall maintain and218
253253 ensure compliance with the provisions of this Code section and state and federal law with219
254254 regard to the use of such software. As a part of such program to ensure compliance, the220
255255 law enforcement agency shall conduct random sample audits of authorized users of such221
256256 facial recognition software on a quarterly basis. Such audits shall, at a minimum, review222
257257 whether the proper documentation is being created and maintained regarding the use of the223
258258 facial recognition software, including the case number, the reason for the facial recognition224
259259 search, the name of the law enforcement officer or officers for whom the search was225
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262262 performed, the unit to which such officer or officers are assigned, and any other226
263263 information required to be obtained and maintained under the policy of the law227
264264 enforcement agency. In addition, at least annually, the law enforcement agency shall228
265265 perform a random sample audit to verify that the proper procedures for conducting facial229
266266 recognition searches and all investigative steps are being followed and that the list of230
267267 authorized users of the facial recognition software is current and that all users who no231
268268 longer need access to the software have been removed. All such audits shall be232
269269 documented and maintained by the agency for a period of at least two calendar years.233
270270 (o) Any person who intentionally misuses facial recognition software shall be guilty of a234
271271 misdemeanor.235
272272 (p) Each law enforcement agency which uses facial recognition software shall establish236
273273 policies under which the ability of users of such software shall be suspended or revoked237
274274 if such users are found to have failed to comply with this Code section or other applicable238
275275 state and federal laws regarding the use of facial recognition software."239
276276 SECTION 2.240
277277 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.241
278278 H. B. 1245
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