Senate Bill S8172B

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8172

SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the correction law, in relation to prohibiting the
obscuring of body-worn or stationary cameras in correctional insti-
tutions

 
PURPOSE:

Prohibits correctional facility employees from willfully obstructing,
blocking, or otherwise, obscuring body-worn or stationary cameras from
recording activities within a correctional facility.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends the correction law by adding a new section 127. This
new section makes it unlawful for any employee of the Department of
Corrections or a correctional facility to obstruct, block, or otherwise
obscure a body-worn or stationary camera from recording activities with-
in a correctional facility. A violation of this section constitutes a
              

felony offense.

Section 2: Establishes that this act shall take effect on the ninetieth
day after it becomes law.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Within correctional facilities, cameras are essential for documenting
interactions between staff and incarcerated individuals. They deter
violence and, in cases like the murder of Robert Brooks, provide crucial
evidence for investigations. This legislation promotes transparency,
accountability, and safety by preventing the willful obstruction of
surveillance devices. Classifying such obstruction as a misdemeanor
reflects the serious threat it poses to civil rights, the integrity of
investigations, and the safety of both staff and incarcerated individ-
uals.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Legislation.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law.

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8172A

SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the correction law, in relation to prohibiting the
obscuring of body-worn or stationary cameras in correctional insti-
tutions

 
PURPOSE:

Prohibits correctional facility employees from willfully obstructing,
blocking, or otherwise, obscuring body-worn or stationary cameras from
recording activities within a correctional facility.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends the correction law by adding a new section 127. This
new section makes it unlawful for any employee of the Department of
Corrections or a correctional facility to obstruct, block, or otherwise
obscure a body-worn or stationary camera from recording activities with-
in a correctional facility. A violation of this section constitutes a
              

felony offense.

Section 2: Establishes that this act shall take effect on the ninetieth
day after it becomes law.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Within correctional facilities, cameras are essential for documenting
interactions between staff and incarcerated individuals. They deter
violence and, in cases like the murder of Robert Brooks, provide crucial
evidence for investigations. This legislation promotes transparency,
accountability, and safety by preventing the willful obstruction of
surveillance devices. Classifying such obstruction as a misdemeanor
reflects the serious threat it poses to civil rights, the integrity of
investigations, and the safety of both staff and incarcerated individ-
uals.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Legislation.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law.