Substitute Senate Bill No. 431 (sSB431 File No. 396) proposes significant changes to the handling of police body-worn recording equipment and dashboard camera recordings. The bill, effective October 1, 2024, introduces new definitions, technical specifications for recording equipment, and conditions for their use by police officers. It specifies when officers must use the equipment, prohibits unauthorized editing or altering of recordings, and allows officers to review footage under certain circumstances. The bill also sets disclosure time frames for the public, with provisions for delaying disclosure due to an officer's inability to review the recordings. It outlines situations where recording is not permitted, such as during personal activities or in sensitive environments like hospitals. The bill also details confidentiality and redaction requirements for records, particularly those involving minors or victims, and mandates annual training for officers on equipment use and data retention.

The bill also addresses the fiscal aspects of managing these recordings. It requires law enforcement units to submit annual reports on their use of recording equipment, which will be reviewed by The University of Connecticut's Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy. A fee structure is established for public agencies to charge for redaction of records, with the first two to four hours of labor costs not charged to the requesting party, and a maximum fee of $100 per hour of the record's actual length. The bill allows for fee waivers under certain conditions and sets guidelines for maintaining unredacted copies of records. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for charging fees for providing copies of computer-stored public records and sets a maximum fee for copies of the names of registered voters. The fiscal impact statement indicates that the bill will result in costs for additional staff to comply with redaction requirements and outlines the potential costs or revenue gains for state agencies and municipal police departments. The bill also specifies that certain recordings must be disclosed to involved persons or requesting parties, and sets conditions for charging redaction fees, with exemptions for certain requestors.