Senate Bill No. 973 seeks to amend the existing laws governing the disclosure of police recordings made by body-worn cameras and dashboard cameras under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The bill repeals Section 29-6d of the general statutes and introduces new definitions such as "requesting party," "involved person," and "redact." It establishes requirements for law enforcement units to comply with technical specifications for recording equipment, mandates the use of body-worn cameras during public interactions, and outlines the conditions for reviewing and disclosing recordings. The bill also introduces provisions for redaction fees, allowing agencies to charge for the labor involved in redacting sensitive information, while ensuring that certain individuals, such as involved persons and their legal representatives, are exempt from these fees.

Additionally, SB 973 sets a timeline for public disclosure of recordings, requiring them to be made available within ninety-six hours of a request, with specific exceptions for medical or psychological reasons. It clarifies the types of recordings that may be exempt from disclosure, such as those involving undercover officers or minors, and mandates annual compliance reporting by law enforcement units. The bill also adjusts the fees for copies of public records, capping charges for redaction labor and ensuring that fees for copies provided by state agencies do not exceed 25 cents per page. Overall, the bill aims to enhance transparency in law enforcement while safeguarding individual privacy rights, with the new provisions set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 29-6d
GOS Joint Favorable: 29-6d
File No. 77: 29-6d