Florida Senate - 2024 SB 108



By Senator Jones





34-00280-24 2024108__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the Lowell Correctional Institution
3 Body Cameras Pilot Program; creating s. 944.145, F.S.;
4 creating the pilot program within the Department of
5 Corrections; providing the purpose of the pilot
6 program; defining terms; requiring that each
7 correctional officer working at the Lowell
8 Correctional Institution wear a body camera while
9 acting within the scope of his or her official duties;
10 requiring the department to establish policies and
11 procedures for the proper use, maintenance, and
12 storage of such body cameras and for data recorded by
13 such body cameras; providing minimum requirements for
14 such policies and procedures; requiring the department
15 to provide training on body camera policies and
16 procedures; requiring that audio and video data
17 recorded by such cameras be maintained in accordance
18 with public records laws; requiring the department to
19 submit annual reports beginning on a certain date;
20 providing report requirements; providing for
21 expiration of the pilot program; providing an
22 effective date.
23
24 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
25
26 Section 1. Section 944.145, Florida Statutes, is created to
27 read:
28 944.145 Lowell Correctional Institution Body Cameras Pilot
29 Program.—
30 (1) The Lowell Correctional Institution Body Cameras Pilot
31 Program is created within the department for 3 years. The
32 purpose of the pilot program is to ensure safety and provide
33 accountability for inmates and staff within the institution.
34 (2) As used in this section, the term:
35 (a) “Body camera” means a portable electronic recording
36 device that is worn on a correctional officer’s person and that
37 records audio and video data of the officer’s prisoner-related
38 encounters and activities.
39 (b) “Correctional officer” has the same meaning as in s.
40 943.10(2).
41 (3) Each correctional officer working at the Lowell
42 Correctional Institution shall wear a body camera while acting
43 within the scope of his or her official duties. The department
44 shall establish policies and procedures addressing the proper
45 use, maintenance, and storage of such body cameras and of the
46 data recorded by such body cameras. The policies and procedures
47 must, at a minimum, include all of the following:
48 (a) General guidelines for the proper use, maintenance, and
49 storage of body cameras.
50 (b) Any limitations on a correctional officer’s use of the
51 body cameras.
52 (c) Any limitations on prisoner-related encounters and
53 activities during which correctional officers are authorized to
54 wear body cameras.
55 (d) A provision allowing a correctional officer using a
56 body camera to review the recorded footage from the body camera,
57 upon his or her own initiative or request, before writing a
58 report or providing a statement regarding any event arising
59 within the scope of his or her official duties. Any such
60 provision may not apply to an officer’s inherent duty to
61 immediately disclose information necessary to secure an active
62 crime scene or to identify suspects or witnesses.
63 (e) General guidelines for the proper storage, retention,
64 and release of audio and video data recorded by body cameras.
65 (4) The department shall:
66 (a) Ensure that all personnel at the Lowell Correctional
67 Institution who wear, use, maintain, or store body cameras are
68 trained in the department’s policies and procedures concerning
69 the body cameras.
70 (b) Ensure that all personnel at the Lowell Correctional
71 Institution who use, maintain, store, or release audio or video
72 data recorded by body cameras are trained in the department’s
73 policies and procedures.
74 (c) Retain all audio and video data recorded by body
75 cameras in accordance with the requirements of s. 119.021,
76 except as otherwise provided by law.
77 (d) Perform a periodic review of body camera practices to
78 ensure conformity with the department’s policies and procedures.
79 (5) Beginning on June 30, 2025, and annually thereafter,
80 the department shall submit a report to the Governor, the
81 President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the
82 Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Minority Leader
83 of the House of Representatives on the operation of the program
84 during the previous year. The report must, at a minimum, include
85 findings based on the review of incidents at the Lowell
86 Correctional Institution and the effectiveness of the body
87 cameras worn by correctional officers, proposals on changes to
88 existing policies and procedures, and any other information that
89 the department deems important in furthering the purpose of the
90 pilot program.
91 (6) This section expires June 30, 2027.
92 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.