HLS 15RS-3456 ENGROSSED
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 180
BY REPRESENTATIVE HONORE
LAW ENFORCEMENT: Creates a task force to study and make recommendations
concerning the use of body cameras by law enforcement agencies in this state
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To create the Louisiana Law Enforcement Body Camera Implementation Task Force to
3 study and make recommendations regarding the requirements for implementation
4 and development of best procedures for the use of the body cameras and policies for
5 access to and use of body camera recordings by law enforcement agencies in this
6 state, and to provide for a written report of its recommendations and findings not
7 later than sixty days prior to the 2016 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature.
8 WHEREAS, in order to safeguard the public and peace officers of this state, it is vital
9for local peace officers and the communities they protect to have strong, collaborative
10relationships; and
11 WHEREAS, trust between law enforcement agencies and the citizens they serve is
12essential to the stability of communities, the integrity of the criminal justice system, and the
13safe and effective delivery of public safety services; and
14 WHEREAS, the implementation of the use of body cameras by all law enforcement
15agencies will assist in preventing and resolving complaints brought by members of the
16public against peace officers, strengthening law enforcement transparency, performance, and
17accountability, and the documentation of evidence; and
18 WHEREAS, the use of video footage might discourage citizens from filing
19unfounded complaints against officers, which could save the agencies a significant amount
20of time and funds that would otherwise be spent on lengthy investigations and lawsuits; and
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1 WHEREAS, body cameras may assist law enforcement agencies in identifying and
2correcting problems within those agencies by using footage from the cameras to provide
3scenario-based training, evaluate the performance of new officers in the field, and identify
4new areas in which training may be needed.
5 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
6create the Louisiana Law Enforcement Body Camera Implementation Task Force to study
7and make recommendations regarding the requirements for implementation and development
8of best procedures for the use of the body cameras and rules for access to and use of body
9camera recordings by law enforcement agencies in this state.
10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall consist of 18 members and
11be composed of the following:
12 (1) The chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary.
13 (2) The chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary B.
14 (3) The attorney general or his designee.
15 (4) The state public defender or his designee.
16 (5) The president of the Louisiana District Attorney's Association or his designee.
17 (6) The executive director of the Louisiana Sheriff's Association or his designee.
18 (7) The president of the Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police or his designee.
19 (8) The president of the Louisiana Fraternal Order of Police or his designee.
20 (9) A representative of the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana.
21 (10) A district court judge designated by the chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme
22Court.
23 (11) A representative of the Louisiana State University Police Department.
24 (12) A representative of the Southern University Police Department.
25 (13) A representative of the National Association of the Advancement of Colored
26People.
27 (14) A member of the public who is a law enforcement officer in a municipality that
28currently utilizes body cameras as designated by the governor.
29 (15) A mayor or city-parish president representing an urban municipality as
30designated by the Louisiana Municipal Association.
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HCR NO. 180
1 (16) A mayor or city-parish president representing a suburban municipality as
2designated by the Louisiana Municipal Association.
3 (17) The superintendent of Louisiana State Police or his designee.
4 (18) The secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections or his
5designee.
6 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all appointments to the task force shall be made
7within thirty days after adjournment of this legislature in the 2015 Regular Session.
8Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. The members of
9the task force shall serve without compensation.
10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of the membership of the task force
11shall constitute a quorum and shall elect the chairman of the task force at its first meeting.
12The task force shall meet at the call of the chairperson or upon an affirmative vote of a
13majority of the task force. All members must be notified in writing of all meetings at least
14five days before the date on which a meeting of the task force is scheduled.
15 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chair shall call an initial meeting of the task
16force no later than October 1, 2015, and hold meetings at the times and in the places it may
17deem appropriate and necessary to fulfill its charge. The task force shall be entitled to call
18its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any state or municipal
19department, agency, or board as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes.
20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall meet no less than two times.
21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force may seek the advice of experts,
22such as persons specializing in the fields of criminology, psychology, education, criminal
23or family law, or other related fields as deemed appropriate by the membership of the task
24force.
25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall prepare and submit a final
26report that contains a detailed statement of the findings and policy recommendations of the
27task force to the governor, the president of the Senate, the speaker of the House of
28Representatives, the chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, the chairman of the
29Senate Committee on Judiciary B, and the chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court not
30later than thirty days prior to the beginning of the 2016 Regular Session of the Legislature
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1of Louisiana and that such recommendations shall include but not be limited to those relative
2to the following:
3 (1) General guidelines for the proper use, maintenance, and storage of body cameras,
4which shall include recommendations on procedures for when the body camera shall be in
5recording mode.
6 (2) Any limitations on the situations in which peace officers are permitted to wear
7body cameras.
8 (3) General guidelines for the proper storage, retention, and release of audio and
9video data recorded by body cameras.
10 (4) General guidelines regarding law enforcement training relative to each law
11enforcement agency's policies and procedures on the use of body cameras.
12 (5) Legislation needed, if any, to authorize the use of body cameras by peace officers
13in this state.
14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall be abolished upon
15submission of the report.
16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the
17appointing entities named in this Resolution.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 180 Engrossed 2015 Regular Session Honore
Creates the Louisiana Law Enforcement Body Camera Implementation Task Force to study
and make recommendations regarding the requirements for implementation and development
of best procedures for the use of the body cameras, and to provide for a written report of its
recommendations and findings not later than sixty days prior to the 2016 R.S.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The House Floor Amendments to the original bill:
1. Add the secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections or his
designee to the list of task force members.
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