Police CAMERA Act of 2021
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (28 Apr 2021): Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
What this bill does
The Police CAMERA Act of 2021 would amend federal law to create a new matching grant program administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance to help states, local governments, and Indian tribes purchase or lease body-worn cameras for law enforcement officers. Grants would run for two years, generally require a 25 percent non-federal cost match (waivable in cases of fiscal hardship), and would fund camera purchases, training, and secure data storage. To qualify, agencies would need to adopt public policies covering camera use, data retention and security, privacy protections, limits on facial recognition technology, complaint procedures, and restrictions on sharing recorded data with other agencies except in specified circumstances such as criminal or civil-rights investigations. The bill sets aside $30,000,000 for fiscal years 2021 and 2023, directs creation of a training toolkit and a national database of related statistics, and requires audits, grantee progress reports, and a broader federal study on the effectiveness and impacts of body-worn cameras.
The bill would primarily affect state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies seeking federal funding for body camera programs, as well as the communities they serve, by establishing standardized rules on camera use, data handling, and public transparency tied to receipt of these grants.
Introduced by Rep. Steve Cohen on February 25, 2021, the bill was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. According to the official record, it did not receive a vote and saw no further action during the 117th 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 2021 or the Police CAMERA Act of 2021
This bill authorizes the Bureau of Justice Assistance within the Department of Justice to make grants for states, local governments, and Indian tribes to purchase or lease body-worn cameras for use by law enforcement officers and to implement body-worn camera programs.
Timeline
28 Apr 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 1338 do?
- The Police CAMERA Act of 2021 would amend federal law to create a new matching grant program administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance to help states, local governments, and Indian tribes purchase or lease body-worn cameras for law enforcement officers. Grants would run for two years, generally require a 25 percent non-federal cost match (waivable in cases of fiscal hardship), and would fund camera purchases, training, and secure data storage. To qualify, agencies would need to adopt public policies covering camera use, data retention and security, privacy protections, limits on facial recognition technology, complaint procedures, and restrictions on sharing recorded data with other agencies except in specified circumstances such as criminal or civil-rights investigations. The bill sets aside $30,000,000 for fiscal years 2021 and 2023, directs creation of a training toolkit and a national database of related statistics, and requires audits, grantee progress reports, and a broader federal study on the effectiveness and impacts of body-worn cameras. The bill would primarily affect state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies seeking federal funding for body camera programs, as well as the communities they serve, by establishing standardized rules on camera use, data handling, and public transparency tied to receipt of these grants. Introduced by Rep. Steve Cohen on February 25, 2021, the bill was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. According to the official record, it did not receive a vote and saw no further action during the 117th Congress.
- Has H.R. 1338 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for H.R. 1338. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored H.R. 1338?
- H.R. 1338 was sponsored by Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] (D-TN), with 0 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 1338?
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. (28 Apr 2021).
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