HB251 - Criminal justice agencies; audiovisual surveillance technologies.

1 Co-Sponsor

Department of Criminal Justice Services; criminal justice Department of Criminal Justice Services; criminal justice agencies; audiovisual surveillance technologies. Provides that the Department of Criminal Justice Services shall have the power and duty to establish a comprehensive framework for the use of audiovisual surveillance technologies as defined in the bill, including license plate reader systems, by criminal justice agencies within the Commonwealth. The comprehensive framework shall include (i) developing policies and procedures that ensure technology usage, data security, and data retention are in compliance with existing laws and regulations; (ii) establishing and publishing a model policy for the use of audiovisual surveillance technologies to serve as a guideline for criminal justice agencies in the Commonwealth; and (iii) establishing compulsory minimum training standards for basic training and recertification of law-enforcement officers operating or accessing audiovisual surveillance technologies, which shall include training on relevant state and federal laws, operational guidelines, privacy and civil liberties considerations, and proper data handling and retention. The bill provides that the Department shall establish and publish such model policy by January 1, 2025, and that all criminal justice agencies shall adopt a policy consistent with such model policy by July 1, 2025. The bill requires any law-enforcement officer who is authorized to operate or access audiovisual surveillance technologies to complete the training required by the bill by July 1, 2025.