EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0669*
HOUSE BILL 669
E4 5lr0769
By: Delegate Williams
Introduced and read first time: January 24, 2025
Assigned to: Judiciary
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Law Enforcement Officers – Body–Worn Cameras – Requirements 2
FOR the purpose of authorizing a recording of a body–worn camera worn by a law 3
enforcement officer to be used as evidence in any administrative, judicial, legislative, 4
or disciplinary proceeding; requiring a custodian to deny inspection of a recording 5
made with the use of a body–worn camera of a law enforcement officer, subject to 6
certain exceptions; establishing minimum requirements for a body–worn camera 7
policy for a law enforcement agency and the model policy created by the Maryland 8
Police Training and Standards Commission; requiring certain law enforcement 9
agencies to require the use of body–worn cameras by certain law enforcement officers 10
on or before a certain date; requiring each law enforcement agency to submit certain 11
information to the Commission each year; requiring the Commission to submit a 12
certain report each year; and generally relating to the use of body–worn cameras by 13
law enforcement officers. 14
BY adding to 15
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 16
Section 10–926 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 19
BY adding to 20
Article – General Provisions 21
Section 4–315.1 22
Annotated Code of Maryland 23
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 24
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 25
Article – Public Safety 26
Section 3–511 27
Annotated Code of Maryland 28 2 HOUSE BILL 669
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 1
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF M ARYLAND, 2
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 3
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 4
10–926. 5
(A) A RECORDING OF A BODY –WORN CAMERA OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT 6
OFFICER MAY BE USED IN ANY ADMINISTRATIVE , JUDICIAL, LEGISLATIVE, OR 7
DISCIPLINARY PROCEED ING. 8
(B) IF A COURT OR OTHER F INDER OF FACT FINDS BY A PREPONDERANCE 9
OF THE EVIDENCE THAT A RECORDING WAS INTE NTIONALLY NOT CAPTUR ED, 10
DESTROYED, ALTERED, OR INTERMITTENTLY CA PTURED IN VIOLATION OF THE 11
BODY–WORN CAMERA REQUIREM ENTS UNDER § 3–511 OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY 12
ARTICLE, THEN THE COURT OR OT HER FINDER OF FACT S HALL CONSIDER OR BE 13
INSTRUCTED TO CONSID ER THAT VIOLATION IN WEIGHING THE EVIDENC E, UNLESS 14
THE STATE PROVIDES A REAS ONABLE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE VIOLATION. 15
Article – General Provisions 16
4–315.1. 17
(A) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION , A CUSTODIAN SHALL 18
DENY INSPECTION OF A RECORDING MADE WITH THE USE OF A BODY –WORN CAMERA 19
OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. 20
(B) A CUSTODIAN SHALL ALLO W INSPECTION OF A RECORDING MADE WITH 21
THE USE OF A BODY –WORN CAMERA OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER : 22
(1) IF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OBTAINS WRITT EN 23
PERMISSION TO DISCLOSE THE RECO RDING FROM EACH INDIVIDUAL CAPTURED ON 24
THE RECORDING OR THE INDIVIDUAL’S LEGAL REPRESENTATI VE; 25
(2) IF THE RECORDING IS FLA GGED ACCORDING TO § 3–511(C)(10)(I), 26
(II), (III), OR (IV) OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ARTICLE, EXCEPT IF AN INDIVIDUAL 27
CAPTURED ON THE RECO RDING WHO WAS NOT ARRESTED AS A RE SULT OF THE 28
RECORDED ENCOUNTER : 29
(I) HAS A REASONABLE EXP ECTATION OF PRIVACY IN WHAT 30
WAS RECORDED ; OR 31
HOUSE BILL 669 3
(II) IS A VICTIM OF OR WI TNESS TO A CRIME ; 1
(3) BY AN INDIVIDUAL CAPTURED ON THE RECORDING OR THE 2
INDIVIDUAL’S ATTORNEY; OR 3
(4) BY THE RECORDING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OR THE 4
OFFICER’S ATTORNEY. 5
(C) A RECORDING REQUESTED FOR INSPECTION UN DER THIS SECTION 6
SHALL BE REDACTED TO REMOVE IDENTIFICA TION OF ANY INDIVIDU AL APPEARING 7
ON THE RECORDING WHO IS NOT: 8
(1) THE RECORDING OFFICER; 9
(2) THE SUBJECT OF THE RECORDED ENCOUNTER ; OR 10
(3) DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE RECORDED ENCOUNTER . 11
Article – Public Safety 12
3–511. 13
(a) (1) In this section[, “law] THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE 14
MEANINGS INDICATED . 15
(2) (I) “COMMUNITY CARETAKING FUNCTION ” MEANS A TASK 16
UNDERTAKEN BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN WHICH THE OFFICER IS 17
PERFORMING AN ACT UN RELATED TO THE INVES TIGATION OF A CRIME . 18
(II) “COMMUNITY CARETAKING FUNCTION” INCLUDES 19
PARTICIPATING IN TOW N HALLS OR OTHER COM MUNITY OUTREACH, HELPING A 20
CHILD FIND THE CHILD’S PARENTS, PROVIDING DEATH NOTI FICATIONS, AND 21
PERFORMING IN –HOME OR HOSPITAL WEL L–BEING CHECKS ON THE SICK, THE 22
ELDERLY, OR INDIVIDUALS PRESU MED MISSING. 23
(3) “LAW enforcement agency” has the meaning stated in § 3–201 of this 24
title. 25
(b) On or before January 1, 2016, the Maryland Police Training and Standards 26
Commission shall develop and publish online a policy for the issuance and use of a 27
body–worn camera by a law enforcement officer that addresses: 28
(1) the testing of body–worn cameras to ensure adequate functioning; 29
4 HOUSE BILL 669
(2) the procedure for the law enforcement officer to follow if the camera 1
fails to properly operate at the beginning of or during the law enforcement officer’s shift; 2
(3) when recording is mandatory; 3
(4) when recording is prohibited; 4
(5) when recording is discretionary; 5
(6) when recording may require consent of a subject being recorded; 6
(7) when a recording may be ended; 7
(8) providing notice of recording; 8
(9) access to and confidentiality of recordings; 9
(10) the secure storage of data from a body–worn camera; 10
(11) review and use of recordings; 11
(12) retention of recordings; 12
(13) dissemination and release of recordings; 13
(14) consequences for violations of the agency’s body–worn camera policy; 14
(15) notification requirements when another individual becomes a party to 15
the communication following the initial notification; 16
(16) specific protections for individuals when there is an expectation of 17
privacy in private or public places; and 18
(17) any additional issues determined to be relevant in the implementation 19
and use of body–worn cameras by law enforcement officers. 20
(c) (1) THE POLICY DEVELOPED UND ER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS 21
SECTION SHALL, AT A MINIMUM , INCLUDE AND BE CONSISTENT WITH THE 22
REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDELINES CONTAINED IN THIS SU BSECTION. 23
(2) UNLESS PURCHASED AND ACQUIRED BY A LAW EN FORCEMENT 24
AGENCY PRIOR TO JULY 1, 2015, A BODY–WORN CAMERA SHALL BE: 25
(I) EQUIPPED WITH PRE –EVENT RECORDING , CAPABLE OF 26
RECORDING AT LEAST T HE 30 SECONDS PRIOR TO CAM ERA ACTIVATION ; AND 27
HOUSE BILL 669 5
(II) CAPABLE OF RECORDING FOR A PERIOD OF AT LEAST 10 1
HOURS. 2
(3) A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFI CER SHALL TURN ON THE OFFICER’S 3
BODY–WORN CAMERA WHEN THE OFFICER IS IN UNIFOR M AND IS RESPONDING TO 4
CALLS FOR SERVICE OR ENGAGED IN A LAW ENFORCEMENT –RELATED ACTIVITY 5
THAT OCCURS WHILE TH E OFFICER IS ON DUTY UNLESS: 6
(I) EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES PREVENT THE CAMERA FROM 7
BEING TURNED ON IMMEDIATELY ; 8
(II) THE OFFICER IS INSIDE A PATROL CAR THAT IS EQUIPPED 9
WITH A FUNCTIONING I N–CAR CAMERA ; OR 10
(III) THE OFFICER IS INSIDE A CORRECTIONAL FACIL ITY OR 11
COURTHOUSE THAT IS EQUIPPED WITH A F UNCTIONING CAMERA SYSTEM. 12
(4) (I) 1. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS 13
PARAGRAPH , A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFI CER SHALL TURN OFF THE OFFICER ’S 14
BODY–WORN CAMERA WHEN: 15
A. A VICTIM OR WITNESS OF A CRIME REQUESTS THAT 16
THE BODY–WORN CAMERA BE TURNED OFF ; 17
B. THE OFFICER IS INTER ACTING WITH A CONFIDENTIAL 18
INFORMANT USED BY THE LAW ENFO RCEMENT AGENCY; OR 19
C. A FIELD ENFORCEMENT AGENT OF THE 20
COMPTROLLER OF MARYLAND ENTERS A COMPTROLLER FACILITY OR CONDUCTS 21
AN INTERVIEW DURING WHICH RETURN INFORMA TION WILL BE DISCUSS ED OR 22
VISIBLE. 23
2. UNLESS IMPRACTICAL OR IMPOSSIBLE, A REQUEST 24
OF A VICTIM OR WITNESS THAT A BODY –WORN CAMERA BE TURNE D OFF UNDER 25
SUBSUBPARAGRAPH 1A OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL BE MADE ON THE 26
RECORDING. 27
(II) 1. NOTWITHSTANDING SUBPA RAGRAPH (I) OF THIS 28
PARAGRAPH , AN OFFICER MAY CONTI NUE TO RECORD A VICTIM, WITNESS, OR 29
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMA NT IF: 30
A. EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCE S EXIST; OR 31
6 HOUSE BILL 669
B. THE OFFICER HAS REAS ONABLE, ARTICULABLE 1
SUSPICION THAT THE V ICTIM, WITNESS, OR INFORMANT HAS COM MITTED OR IS IN 2
THE PROCESS OF COMMI TTING A CRIME. 3
2. UNLESS IMPRACTICAL OR IMPOSSIBLE, THE OFFICER 4
SHALL INDICATE ON TH E RECORDING THE REAS ON FOR CONTINUING TO RECORD 5
UNDER THIS SUBPARAGR APH. 6
(5) A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFI CER MAY TURN OFF THE OFFICER’S 7
BODY–WORN C AMERA WHEN THE OFFIC ER IS ENGAGED IN A COMMUNITY 8
CARETAKING FUNCTION , UNLESS THE OFFICER HAS REAS ON TO BELIEVE THAT THE 9
PERSON ON WHOSE BEHA LF THE OFFICER IS PERFORMING A COMMUNI TY 10
CARETAKING FUNCTION HAS COMMITTED OR IS IN THE PROCESS OF COMMITTING A 11
CRIME. 12
(6) (I) IF A PERSON HAS A REA SONABLE EXPECTATION OF 13
PRIVACY, A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER SHALL NOTIFY THE PERSON THAT THE 14
OFFICER IS RECORDING IN A MANNER THAT IS EVIDENT IN THE RECOR DING. 15
(II) IF EXIGENT CIRCUMSTAN CES EXIST THAT PREVENT THE 16
OFFICER FROM PROVIDI NG NOTICE, NOTICE MUST BE PROVIDED AS SOON AS 17
PRACTICABLE . 18
(7) (I) ONLY PERSONNEL RESPON SIBLE FOR REDACTING OR 19
DUPLICATING RECORDIN GS MAY ACCESS A BODY –WORN CAMERA RECORDIN G TO 20
REDACT OR DUPLICATE THE RECORDING . 21
(II) NEITHER A RECORDING OFFICER NOR THE OFFICER ’S 22
SUPERVISOR MAY REDAC T, DUPLICATE, OR OTHERWISE ALTER T HE RECORDING 23
OFFICER’S BODY–WORN CAMERA RECORDINGS . 24
(8) (I) SUBJECT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH , A 25
RECORDING OFFICER AN D THE OFFICER’S SUPERVISOR MAY ACC ESS AND REVIEW A 26
BODY–WORN CAMERA RECORDING BEFORE COM PLETING AN INCIDENT REPORT OR 27
OTHER DOCUMENTATION ONLY IF THE SUPERVISOR DISCL OSES THE ACCESS AND 28
REVIEW IN THE INCIDENT REPORT OR OTHER DOCU MENTATION. 29
(II) A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFI CER MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO, 30
OR REVIEW, A BODY–WORN CAMERA RECORDING OF THE OFFICER OR ANOTHER 31
OFFICER BEFORE COMPLETING AN INCIDENT REPORT OR O THER DOCUMENTATION 32
IF THE OFFICER: 33
HOUSE BILL 669 7
1. HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN , OR IS A WITNESS TO , AN 1
OFFICER–INVOLVED SHOOTING , USE OF DEADLY FORCE INCIDENT, OR USE OF 2
FORCE INCIDENT RESULTING I N GREAT BODILY HARM ; OR 3
2. IS ORDERED TO WRITE A REPORT IN RESPONSE TO, OR 4
DURING THE INVESTIGA TION OF, A MISCONDUCT COMPLAINT AGAINST TH E 5
OFFICER. 6
(III) 1. A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFI CER DESCRIBED IN 7
SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH MAY FILE AN AMENDATORY REPORT TO 8
THE INCIDENT REPORT AFTER VIEWING ONE OR MORE BODY–WORN CAMERA 9
RECORDINGS . 10
2. AN AMENDATORY REPORT FILED UNDER 11
SUBSUBPARAGRAPH 1 OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL INCLUDE DOCUMENTATION 12
REGARDING ACCESS TO THE RECORDING OR RECORDINGS . 13
(9) (I) A RECORDING OFFICER ’S ASSIGNED FIELD TRAINING 14
OFFICER MAY ACCESS AND REVIE W BODY–WORN CAMERA RECORDIN GS FOR 15
TRAINING PURPOSES . 16
(II) A DETECTIVE OR INVESTI GATOR DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN AN 17
INVESTIGATION MAY ACCESS AND REVIE W BODY–WORN CAMERA RECORDIN GS THAT 18
PERTAIN TO TH E INVESTIGATION BUT MAY NOT DELETE O R ALTER SUCH 19
RECORDINGS . 20
(10) A BODY–WORN CAMERA RECORDING SHALL BE RETAINED BY THE 21
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGEN CY OR BY THE CAMERA VENDOR USED BY THE AGENCY 22
FOR 90 DAYS AFTER THE RECORDING IS MADE AND DESTROYED THEREA FTER 23
UNLESS THE RECORDING IS FLA GGED BECAUSE : 24
(I) A FORMAL OR INFORMAL COMPLAINT HAS BEEN F ILED 25
REGARDING AN ENCOUNT ER CAPTURED ON THE R ECORDING; 26
(II) THE RECORDING OFFICE R DISCHAR GED THE OFFICER ’S 27
FIREARM OR USED FORC E DURING THE RECORDE D ENCOUNTER ; 28
(III) A PERSON CAPTURED IN THE RECORDING DIED O R 29
SUFFERED GREAT BODIL Y HARM; 30
(IV) THE RECORDED ENCOUNT ER RESULTED IN A DET ENTION 31
OR AN ARREST, EXCLUDING TRAFFIC ST OPS THAT RESULTED IN ONLY AN OFFENSE 32
PUNISHABLE BY A FINE ; 33
8 HOUSE BILL 669
(V) THE OFFICER IS THE S UBJECT OF AN INTERNA L 1
INVESTIGATION OR OTH ER MISCONDUCT INVEST IGATION; 2
(VI) THE SUPERVISOR OF TH E RECORDING OFFICER , A 3
PROSECUTOR , A DEFENDANT , OR THE COURT DETERMI NES THAT THE EN COUNTER 4
HAS EVIDENTIARY VALU E IN A CRIMINAL PROS ECUTION; OR 5
(VII) THE RECORDING OFFICE R REQUESTS THAT THE 6
RECORDING BE SAVED : 7
1. FOR PURPOSES RELATED TO THE OFFICER’S OFFICIAL 8
DUTIES; OR 9
2. BECAUSE THE OFFICER BELIEVES IT MAY HAVE 10
EVIDENTIARY VALUE IN A CRIMINAL PROSECUTI ON. 11
(11) (I) A BODY–WORN CAMERA RECORDIN G OF A LAW 12
ENFORCEMENT –RELATED ACTIVITY MAY NOT BE ALTERED, ERASED, OR DESTROYED 13
BEFORE THE EXPIRATIO N OF THE 90–DAY STORAGE PERIOD SPECIFIED IN 14
PARAGRAPH (10) OF THIS SUBSECTION. 15
(II) NOTWITHSTANDING SUBPA RAGRAPH (I) OF THIS 16
PARAGRAPH , IF A RECORDING IS ALTERED, ERASED, OR DESTROYED BEFORE THE 17
EXPIRATION OF THE 90–DAY STORAGE PERIOD SPECIFIED IN PARAGRA PH (10) OF 18
THIS SUBSECTION , THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SHALL MAINTAIN, FOR 1 YEAR, 19
A WRITTEN RECORD OF THE ACTION INCLUD ING THE NAME OF THE INDI VIDUAL WHO 20
MADE THE ALTERATION, ERASURE, OR DESTRUCTION AND T HE REASON FOR THE 21
ALTERATION, ERASURE, OR DESTRUCTION . 22
(12) A FLAGGED RECORDING UN DER PARAGRAPH (10) OF THIS 23
SUBSECTION MAY NOT BE ALTERED OR DESTRO YED: 24
(I) FOR 2 YEARS AFTER THE RECO RDING IS FLAGGED; OR 25
(II) IF THE RECORDING IS USED IN A CRIMINAL , CIVIL, OR 26
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCE EDING, UNTIL AFTER A FINAL DISPOSITION AND ORDER 27
FROM THE COURT. 28
(13) A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY MAY LABEL A BODY–WORN 29
CAMERA RECORDING WITHIN THE RECORDING MEDIUM IF THE LABELING DOES NOT 30
ALTER THE ACTUAL REC ORDING OF THE INCIDE NT CAPTURED ON THE BODY–WORN 31
BODY CAMERA . 32
HOUSE BILL 669 9
(14) (I) A RECORDING MAY BE RETAINED BEYOND THE STORAGE 1
REQUIREMENTS CONTAINED IN THIS SU BSECTION IF A SUPERVISOR AT T HE LAW 2
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY DESIGNATES TH E RECORDING FOR TRAI NING PURPOSES . 3
(II) A RECORDING DESIGNATED FOR TRAINING PURPOSE S 4
UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH MAY BE VIEWED BY AN OFFICER, IN 5
THE PRESENCE OF A SUPERVISOR OR TRAINI NG INSTRUCTOR , FOR THE PURPOSES 6
OF INSTRUCTION, TRAINING, OR ENSURING COMPLIAN CE WITH AGENCY POLICIES. 7
(15) (I) SUBJECT TO SUBPARAGRA PH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH , A 8
BODY–WORN CAMERA R ECORDING MAY NOT BE USED TO DISCI PLINE A LAW 9
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER UNLESS: 10
1. A FORMAL OR INFORMAL COMPLAINT OF 11
MISCONDUCT HAS BEEN MADE ; 12
2. A USE OF FORCE INCID ENT HAS OCCURRED ; 13
3. THE ENCOUNTER ON THE RECORDING COULD RESU LT 14
IN AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION UNDER SUBTITLE 1 OF THIS TITLE; OR 15
4. THE RECORDING IS USED FOR CORROBORATION OF 16
OTHER EVIDENCE OF MISCONDUCT . 17
(II) NOTHING IN SUBPARAGRA PH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH 18
LIMITS OR PROHIBIT S A LAW ENFORCEMENT OF FICER FROM BEING SUB JECT TO AN 19
ACTION THAT DOES NOT AMOUNT TO DISCIPLINE . 20
(16) A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGEN CY SHALL ENSURE PROP ER CARE AND 21
MAINTENANCE OF A BODY–WORN CAMERA, INCLUDING: 22
(I) REQUIRING AN OFFICER TO DOCUMENT AND NOTIFY THE 23
APPROPRIATE SUPERVIS OR OF TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, FAILURES, OR 24
PROBLEMS WITH A BODY–WORN CAMERA OR ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT ON 25
BECOMING AWARE OF TH E ISSUE; AND 26
(II) REQUIRING A SUPERVIS OR, ON RECEIVING NOTICE OF A 27
PROBLEM WITH BODY–WORN CAMERA EQUIPME NT, TO MAKE EVERY REASONABL E 28
EFFORT TO CORRECT AN D REPAIR THE EQUIPMENT. 29
(17) (I) A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFI CER MAY NOT HINDER OR 30
PROHIBIT A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC FROM RECORDING A LAW ENFORCEMENT 31
OFFICER IN THE PERFO RMANCE OF THE OFFICER’S DUTIES IN A PUBLIC PLACE OR 32
WHEN THE OFFICER HAS NO REASONABLE EXPECTATION OF PRIVA CY. 33 10 HOUSE BILL 669
(II) A WRITTEN POLICY CREATED IN ACCORDANC E WITH THIS 1
SECTION SHALL INDICATE : 2
1. THE POTENTIAL CRIMIN AL PENALTIES AND 3
ADMINISTRATIVE DISCIPLINE FOR UNLAWFUL CONFISCATIO N OR DESTRUCTION OF 4
THE RECORDING MEDIUM OF A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC ; AND 5
2. THAT AN OFFICER MAY TAKE REASONABLE ACTION TO 6
MAINTAIN SAFETY AND CONTROL, SECURE CRIME SCENES AND ACCIDENT SITES , 7
PROTECT THE INTEGRITY AND CONFID ENTIALITY OF INVESTI GATIONS, AND 8
PROTECT THE PUBLIC SAFETY AN D ORDER. 9
(D) (1) (i) This paragraph applies to: 10
1. the Department of State Police; 11
2. the Anne Arundel County Police Department; 12
3. the Howard County Police Department; and 13
4. the Harford County Sheriff’s Office. 14
(ii) On or before July 1, 2023, a law enforcement agency to which this 15
paragraph applies shall require the use of body–worn cameras, subject to the policy on the 16
use of body–worn cameras developed by the law enforcement agency, by each law 17
enforcement officer employed by the law enforcement agency who regularly interacts with 18
members of the public as part of the law enforcement officer’s official duties. 19
(2) On or before July 1, 2025, a law enforcement agency of a county, other 20
than a law enforcement agency described in paragraph (1) of this subsection, shall require 21
the use of body–worn cameras, subject to the policy on the use of body–worn cameras 22
developed by the law enforcement agency, by each law enforcement officer employed by the 23
law enforcement agency who regularly interacts with members of the public as part of the 24
law enforcement officer’s official duties. 25
(3) ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2027, EACH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY 26
IN THE STATE SHALL REQUIRE T HE USE OF BODY–WORN CAMERAS , SUBJECT TO THE 27
POLICY ON THE USE OF BODY–WORN CAMERAS DEVELOP ED BY THE LAW 28
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY , BY EACH LAW ENFORCEM ENT OFFICER EMPLOYED BY THE 29
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGEN CY WHO REGULARLY INT ERACTS WITH MEMBERS OF THE 30
PUBLIC AS PART OF TH E LAW ENFORCEMENT OF FICER’S OFFICIAL DUTIES. 31
[(d)] (E) (1) A law enforcement agency described in subsection [(c)] (D) of this 32
section shall develop and maintain a written policy consistent with the policy published by 33 HOUSE BILL 669 11
the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission under subsection (b) of this 1
section for the use of body–worn cameras. 2
(2) A policy developed and maintained under paragraph (1) of this 3
subsection shall specify which law enforcement officers employed by the law enforcement 4
agency are required to use body–worn cameras. 5
[(e) A body–worn camera that possesses the requisite technological capability 6
shall automatically record and save at least 60 seconds of video footage immediately prior 7
to the officer activating the record button on the device.] 8
(f) A law enforcement agency may not negate or alter any of the requirements or 9
policies established in accordance with this section through collective bargaining. 10
(G) (1) ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2026, AND EACH OCTOBER 1 11
THEREAFTER , EACH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY REQUIRED TO USE BODY –WORN 12
CAMERAS UNDER SUBSEC TION (D) OF THIS SECTION SHALL SUBMIT TO THE 13
COMMISSION A REPORT ON THE USE OF BODY–WORN CAMERAS THAT INCLUDE S: 14
(I) A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE MAKEUP OF THE AG ENCY, 15
INCLUDING THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS UTILIZIN G BODY–WORN CAMERAS; 16
(II) THE NUMBER OF BODY –WORN CAMERAS UTILIZED BY THE 17
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGEN CY; 18
(III) ANY TECHNICAL ISSUES WITH THE BODY–WORN CAMERA 19
EQUIPMENT AND HOW TH OSE ISSUES WERE REME DIED; 20
(IV) A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE REVIEW PROCES S USED BY 21
SUPERVISORS WITHIN T HE LAW ENFORCEMENT A GENCY; AND 22
(V) ANY OTHER INFORMATIO N RELEVANT TO THE 23
ADMINISTRATION OF TH E PROGRAM. 24
(2) ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2027, AND EACH JANUARY 1 25
THEREAFTER , THE COMMISSION SHALL REPO RT TO THE GOVERNOR AND , IN 26
ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL 27
ASSEMBLY ON THE INFORMATION COLL ECTED UNDER PARAGRAP H (1) OF THIS 28
SUBSECTION. 29
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, T hat this Act shall take effect 30
October 1, 2025. 31