86R11071 JSC-F
By: Birdwell S.B. No. 973
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a limited viewing of certain body worn camera
recordings.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 1701.660, Occupations Code, is amended
by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as
follows:
(a) Except as provided by Subsections (a-1) and
[Subsection] (b), a recording created with a body worn camera and
documenting an incident that involves the use of deadly force by a
peace officer or that is otherwise related to an administrative or
criminal investigation of an officer may not be deleted, destroyed,
or released to the public until all criminal matters have been
finally adjudicated and all related administrative investigations
have concluded.
(a-1) A law enforcement agency may permit a person who is
depicted in a recording of an incident described by Subsection (a)
or, if the person is deceased, the person's authorized
representative, to view the recording, provided that the law
enforcement agency determines that the viewing furthers a law
enforcement purpose and the representative was not a witness to the
incident. If a viewing is permitted under this subsection, the law
enforcement agency must allow a viewing of the full and unedited
recording covering the duration of the incident and may not redact
the recording. A person viewing a recording may not duplicate the
recording or capture video or audio from the recording.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a
recording held by a law enforcement agency on or after the effective
date of this Act, regardless of whether the recording was created
before, on, or after that date.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.