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Committee approves bill adding limited undercover and confidential-informant body-camera exceptions
Summary
House Bill 339 would allow certain undercover operations and confidential informant interactions to employ body-worn cameras despite existing constraints. The committee passed the bill and moved it to the consent calendar.
Representative Gwen described House Bill 339 as a change to state law that currently governs agencies that adopt body-worn cameras; the sponsor said the new language would permit exceptions for undercover strike-force operations and use with confidential informants when those operations require camera use.
Representative Gwen said state code does not compel agencies to adopt body cameras but governs agencies that do. The substitute clarifies that agencies conducting undercover operations and strike-force activities may use body cameras in specific circumstances where current statute lacks an explicit exception.
No public opposition was noted at the hearing. The committee voted to pass out the bill with a favorable recommendation and later moved it to the consent calendar; the committee vote was recorded as passing 5–0.
Votes at the committee
- Recommend favorably HB 339 to the full Senate: voice vote recorded as 5–0. - Motion to place HB 339 on the consent calendar: committee approved (vote recorded as 4–0 on the consent motion).
