B 26-0616 — Body-Worn Camera Transparency for Use of Force Emergency Amendment Act of 2026

2ENROLLED ________________________ORIGINAL ________________________AN ChairmanACT Phil Mendelson Councilmember Brooke Pinto 6 8 A BILL _________________________ IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA _________________________ To amend, on an emergency basis, section 3004 of the Body-Worn Camera Regulation and Reporting Requirements Act of 2015 and Chapter 39 of Title 24 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations to require the release of body-worn camera recordings of Metropolitan Police Department Officers present in the event of an officer-involved death or serious use of force by a law enforcement officer other than a Metropolitan Police Department officer.

ENROLLED ORIGINAL “(i-I) Notwithstanding sub-subparagraph (i) of this subparagraph, for incidents occurring between August 1, 2025, and the effective date of the Body-Worn Camera Transparency for Use of Force Emergency Amendment Act of 2026, passed on emergency basis on March 3, 2026 (Enrolled version of Bill 26-XXX),26-616) (“Body-Worn Camera Transparency Emergency Act”), within 10 business days after the effective date of the Body-WornBody- Worn Camera Transparency for Use of Force Emergency AmendmentAct, Act of 2026, passed on emergency basis on March 3, 2026 (Enrolled version of Bill 26-XXX), publicly release:

(b) Subsection (e)(1) is amended byto strikingread theas phrasefollows: “officer-involved death or serious use of force” and inserting the phrase “officer-involved death directly involving an MPD officer or a serious use of force directly involving an MPD officer” in its place.

“(e)(1) For any incident involving an officer-involved death directly involving an MPD officer or serious use of force directly involving an MPD officer, MPD officers shall not review any body-worn camera recordings to assist in initial report writing;

provided, that MPD officers may review body-worn camera recordings to assist in initial report writing for incidents involving an officer-involved death directly involving a law enforcement officer other than an MPD officer or serious use of force directly involving a law enforcement officer other than an MPD officer prior to the effective date of the Body-Worn Camera Transparency Emergency Act.”.

(1) ANew newparagraphs paragraph (1A) isand (1B) are added to read as follows:

“(1A) “Law enforcement officer” means any officer, agent, or employee of the United States or any state or local government authorized by law or by a government agency to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, or investigation of any violation of criminal or civil law.”.law.

“(1B) “MPD” means the Metropolitan Police Department.”.

(A) Subparagraph (A) is amended by striking the phrase “Metropolitan Police Department officer” and inserting the phrase “Metropolitan“MPD Police Department officer, or any other law enforcement officer while an MPD officer is present” in its place.

(B) Subparagraph (B) is amended by striking the phrase “Metropolitan Police Department officer” and inserting the phrase “Metropolitan“MPD Police Department officer, or any other law enforcement officer while an MPD officer is present” in its place.

ENROLLED ORIGINAL (C) SubparagraphThe lead-in language of subparagraph (C) is amended by striking the phrase “Metropolitan Police Department officer” and inserting the phrase “Metropolitan“MPD Police Department officer, or any other law enforcement officer while an MPD officer is present” in its place.

(D) Subparagraph (D) is amended by striking the phrase “Metropolitan Police Department canine” and inserting the phrase “Metropolitan“MPD Police Department canine, or canine of any other law enforcement officer while an MPD officer is present” in its place.

“(a)“3900.9.(a) For any incident involving an officer-involved death directly involving an MPD member or a serious use of force directly involving an MPD member, MPD members shall not review any BWC recordings to assist in initial report writing.writing;

provided, that MPD members may review body-worn camera recordings to assist in initial report writing for incidents involving an officer-involved death directly involving a law enforcement officer other than an MPD member or serious use of force directly involving a law enforcement officer other than an MPD member prior to the effective date of the Body-Worn Camera Transparency for Use of Force Emergency Amendment Act of 2026, passed on emergency basis on March 3, 2026 (Enrolled version of Bill 26-616).

99ENROLLED ORIGINAL “(A-i) Notwithstanding sub-subparagraph (A) of this subparagraph, for incidents occurring between August 1, 2025, and the effective date of the Body-Worn Camera Transparency for Use of Force Emergency Amendment Act of 2026, passed on emergency basis on March 3, 2026 (Enrolled version of Bill 26-XXX),26-616), within 10 business days after the effective date of the Body-Worn Camera Transparency for Use of Force Emergency Amendment Act of 2026, passed on emergency basis on March 3, 2026 (Enrolled version of Bill 26-XXX),26-616), publicly release:

(b) Section 3999.1 is amended by adding a new definition between the definitions of “FOIA” and “metadata”“Metadata” to read as follows:

This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), and shall remain in effect for no longer than 90 days, as provided for emergency acts of the Council of the District of Columbia in section ENROLLED ORIGINAL 412(a) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat.

___________________________________ Chairman Council of the District of Columbia _________________________________ Mayor District of Columbia 5