Police CAMERA Act of 2017
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (4 Oct 2017): Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
What this bill does
H.R. 3944, the Police CAMERA Act of 2017, would establish a grant program managed by the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). This program would provide funding to states, local governments, and Indian tribes to purchase or lease body-worn cameras for law enforcement officers. The grants would also cover expenses related to implementing body-worn camera programs, such as training and data storage.
To receive a grant, recipients would be required to establish specific policies and procedures for the use of body-worn cameras. These would include guidelines for data collection, retention, privacy protection, and public access to footage. The BJA would also be responsible for creating a toolkit to offer training and technical assistance, including best practices and model policies.
This bill was introduced in the House of Representatives in October 2017 and has been referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The BJA would also be mandated to conduct a study on the effectiveness and impact of body-worn cameras and report its findings to Congress.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Police Creating Accountability by Making Effective Recording Available Act of 2017 or the Police CAMERA Act of 2017
This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to make grants to states, local governments, and Indian tribes to purchase or lease body-worn cameras and to implement body-worn camera programs.
A state, local government, or Indian tribe that receives a grant must comply with certain requirements, including to establish policies and procedures for the use of body-worn cameras and to adopt recorded data collection and retention protocols.
The BJA must establish and maintain a toolkit to provide training and technical assistance, including best practices for implementation, model policies and procedures, and research materials.
The BJA must also study and report to Congress on the efficacy, impact, and effect of using body-worn cameras.
Timeline
4 Oct 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 3944 do?
- H.R. 3944, the Police CAMERA Act of 2017, would establish a grant program managed by the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). This program would provide funding to states, local governments, and Indian tribes to purchase or lease body-worn cameras for law enforcement officers. The grants would also cover expenses related to implementing body-worn camera programs, such as training and data storage. To receive a grant, recipients would be required to establish specific policies and procedures for the use of body-worn cameras. These would include guidelines for data collection, retention, privacy protection, and public access to footage. The BJA would also be responsible for creating a toolkit to offer training and technical assistance, including best practices and model policies. This bill was introduced in the House of Representatives in October 2017 and has been referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The BJA would also be mandated to conduct a study on the effectiveness and impact of body-worn cameras and report its findings to Congress.
- Has H.R. 3944 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for H.R. 3944. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored H.R. 3944?
- H.R. 3944 was sponsored by Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] (D-TN), with 16 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 3944?
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations. (4 Oct 2017).
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