North Carolina 2019-2020 Session Status: In Committee 5 D cosponsors

HB 706 — Body-Worn Camera Recordings.

Last action — Passed 1st Reading

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2019-2020 Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

190 added · 188 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the latest version of HB 706, the definition of a "recording" has been specified to include only visual and audio recordings captured by body-worn cameras, removing the mention of dashboard cameras. Additionally, it clarified the term "recordable interaction" to encompass a broader range of situations involving law enforcement officers and the public. These changes aim to ensure a consistent understanding of what constitutes official recordings by law enforcement and enhance accountability in police interactions. This matters because it helps to standardize practices related to recording interactions with the public, potentially influencing transparency and trust in law enforcement.

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA H.B.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2019 H 1 HOUSE BILL 706 Short Title:
706 Apr 10, 2019 SESSION 2019 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK H D HOUSE BILL DRH30296-NDa-36 Short Title:
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO REQUIRE MOST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO WEAR AND ACTIVATE BODY-WORN CAMERAS DURING CERTAIN INTERACTIONS WITH THE PUBLIC, TO ESTABLISH A USE POLICY FOR BODY-WORN CAMERAS AND DASHBOARD CAMERAS, TO ESTABLISH AN ACCESS POLICY FOR RECORDINGS CAPTURED BY BODY-WORN CAMERAS AND DASHBOARD CAMERAS, AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS.
Appropriations, Justice and Public Safety, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House April 11, 2019 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO REQUIRE MOST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO WEAR AND ACTIVATE BODY-WORN CAMERAS DURING CERTAIN INTERACTIONS WITH THE PUBLIC, TO ESTABLISH A USE POLICY FOR BODY-WORN CAMERAS AND DASHBOARD CAMERAS, TO ESTABLISH AN ACCESS POLICY FOR RECORDINGS CAPTURED BY BODY-WORN CAMERAS AND DASHBOARD CAMERAS, AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS.
– Any employee of a law enforcement agency who (i) is actively serving in a position with primary duties and responsibilities for the prevention and detection of crime or the general enforcement of the criminal laws of the State, (ii) possesses the power of arrest by virtue of an *DRH30296-NDa-36* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2019 oath administered under the authority of the State, and (iii) is primarily assigned to patrol duties.
– Any employee of a law enforcement agency who (i) is actively serving in a position with primary duties and responsibilities for *H706-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2019 the prevention and detection of crime or the general enforcement of the criminal laws of the State, (ii) possesses the power of arrest by virtue of an oath administered under the authority of the State, and (iii) is primarily assigned to patrol duties.
– A law enforcement officer shall read, agree to, and sign a written waiver that consists of consent by the law enforcement officer to be recorded by a body-worn camera and an acknowledgment of the requirements of this section and the related policies established under subsection (i) of this section by the law enforcement agency employing the law enforcement officer.
– A law enforcement officer shall read, agree to, and sign a written waiver that consists of consent by the law enforcement officer to be recorded by a body-worn camera and an acknowledgment of the requirements of this section and the related policies established Page 2 House Bill 706-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2019 under subsection (i) of this section by the law enforcement agency employing the law enforcement officer.
Page 2 DRH30296-NDa-36 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2019 (d) Evidence.
(d) Evidence.
(a) Requirement.
House Bill 706-First Edition Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2019 (a) Requirement.
– If a law enforcement vehicle is equipped with a dashboard camera, and except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a law enforcement officer shall activate the dashboard camera when engaging in a traffic stop, vehicle pursuit, vehicle search, or other DRH30296-NDa-36 Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2019 interaction with the public that is within the range of the camera.
– If a law enforcement vehicle is equipped with a dashboard camera, and except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a law enforcement officer shall activate the dashboard camera when engaging in a traffic stop, vehicle pursuit, vehicle search, or other interaction with the public that is within the range of the camera.
132-1.4A Article 7 of Chapter 15A of the General Statutes shall, at no cost, provide access to a method to view and analyze the recording upon request of the State Bureau of Investigation or the North Carolina State Crime Laboratory." SECTION 6.
132-1.4A Article 7 of Chapter 15A of the General Statutes shall, at no cost, provide access Page 4 House Bill 706-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2019 to a method to view and analyze the recording upon request of the State Bureau of Investigation or the North Carolina State Crime Laboratory." SECTION 6.
Page 4 DRH30296-NDa-36 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2019 "(a) Permitted Purposes.
"(a) Permitted Purposes.
DRH30296-NDa-36 Page 5
House Bill 706-First Edition Page 5
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How this bill changes current law

7 changes Share ↗

Compared against the N.C. General Statutes as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill repeals existing law regarding law enforcement agency recordings and establishes new requirements for body-worn cameras and dashboard cameras.

  • G.S. 132-1.4A

    § 132-1.4A. Law enforcement agency recordings.

    This change completely removes the existing section on law enforcement agency recordings.

  • Chapter 15A

    Article 7. Body-Worn Cameras and Dashboard Cameras.

    This adds a new article to establish requirements and definitions for body-worn and dashboard cameras in law enforcement.

  • 15A-202

    § 15A-202. Body-worn cameras required for law enforcement officers.

    This section mandates that law enforcement officers wear and activate body-worn cameras during recordable interactions.

  • 15A-203

    § 15A-203. Use of dashboard cameras in law enforcement vehicles.

    This section requires activation of dashboard cameras during relevant law enforcement interactions.

  • 15A-202(e)

    Evidence. – If otherwise admissible, a recording captured by a body-worn camera pursuant to this section may be used as evidence in any relevant administrative, civil, or criminal proceeding.

    This clarifies the admissibility of recordings from body-worn cameras in legal proceedings.

  • 15A-202(f)

    Retention. – A law enforcement agency shall retain an original, unredacted recording captured by a body-worn camera pursuant to this section for the later of (i) 60 days from the date of the recording, (ii) the period specified in a court order, or (iii) 10 days from the date an administrative, civil, or criminal proceeding in which the recording was used as evidence concludes.

    This establishes a specific retention period for recordings from body-worn cameras.

  • G.S. 126-22

    Notwithstanding G.S. 126-22, 132-1.4, 153A-98, 160A-168, or any other provision of law to the contrary, a law enforcement agency may disclose or provide a copy of any recording captured by a body-worn camera under this section to any person who submits a written request to the law enforcement agency.

    This allows greater public access to recordings, overriding previous restrictions on personnel files.

Action History

  1. Passed 1st Reading

  2. Ref to the Com on Appropriations, Justice and Public Safety, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  3. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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3 sponsors · 11 co-sponsors · 165 not signed on

Sponsors (3)

Co-sponsors (11)

Not signed on (165)

165 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 165 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety technology
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 706?
HB 706 is sponsored by Amos L. Quick, III (Democratic), Alexander, Farmer-Butterfield, Fisher, Floyd, Gill, Pricey Harrison (Democratic), Holley, Montgomery, Terry, R. Smith, Carolyn G. Logan (Democratic), Zack Hawkins (Democratic), and Cecil Brockman (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 706?
This bill died with 2019-2020 Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HB 706?
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