§ 23-1-240 — Body-worn cameras; definition; guidelines; policies and procedures; fund; data release.

(A) For purposes of this section, "body-worn camera" means an electronic device worn on a person's body that records both audio and video data. (B) State and local law enforcement agencies, under the direction of the Law Enforcement Training Council, shall implement the use of body-worn cameras pursuant to guidelines established by the Law Enforcement Training Council. (C) Within one hundred eighty days after the effective date of this section, the Law Enforcement Training Council shall conduct a thorough study of the use, implementation procedures, costs, and other related aspects associated with body-worn cameras in jurisdictions with body-worn cameras currently in use or which begin their use during this period. The Law Enforcement Training Council shall develop guidelines for the use of body-worn cameras by state and local law enforcement agencies within one hundred eighty days of the effective date of this act. The guidelines must include, but are not limited to, specifying which law enforcement officers must wear body-worn cameras, when body-worn cameras must be worn and activated, restrictions on the use of body-worn cameras, the process to obtain consent of victims and witnesses before using body-worn cameras during an interview, the retention and release of data recorded by body-worn cameras, and access to the data recorded by body-worn cameras pursuant to subsection (G). The Law Enforcement Training Council shall provide the guidelines to state and local law enforcement agencies. The General Assembly may terminate all or part of the guidelines by resolution. (D) State and local law enforcement agencies shall develop policies and procedures for the use of body-worn cameras pursuant to the guidelines established by the Law Enforcement Training Council. The agencies shall submit the policies and procedures to the Law Enforcement Training Council within two hundred seventy days of the effective date of this act. The Law Enforcement Training Council shall review and approve or disapprove of the policies and procedures. If the Law Enforcement Training Council disapproves of the policies and procedures, the law enforcement agency shall modify and resubmit the policies and procedures. The Law Enforcement Training Council, by three hundred sixty days from the effective date of this section, shall submit a report to the General Assembly which must include recommendations for statutory provisions necessary to ensure the provisions of this section are appropriately and efficiently managed and carried out and the fiscal impact associated with the use of body-worn cameras as required by this section, updated continuously as necessary. (E)(1) A "Body-Worn Cameras Fund" is established within the Department of Public Safety for the purpose of assisting state and local law enforcement agencies, the Attorney General's office, solicitors' offices, and public defenders' offices in implementing the provisions of this section, including, but not limited to, the initial purchase, maintenance, and replacement of body-worn cameras and ongoing costs related to the maintenance and storage of data recorded by body-worn cameras. The Public Safety Coordinating Council shall oversee the fund, and shall, within one hundred eighty days of the effective date of this act, establish a process for the application for and disbursement of monies to state and local law enforcement agencies, the Attorney General's office, solicitors' offices, and public defenders' offices. The Public Safety Coordinating Council shall disburse the funds in a fair and equitable manner, taking into consideration priorities in funding. (2) Upon approval of a state or local law enforcement agency's policies and procedures by the Law Enforcement Training Council, the agency may apply to the Public Safety Coordinating Council for funding to implement the agency's use of body-worn cameras pursuant to this section, including, but not limited to, the initial purchase, maintenance, and replacement of body-worn cameras and ongoing costs related to the maintenance and storage of data recorded by body-worn cameras. A state or local law enforcement agency is not required to implement the use of body-worn cameras pursuant to this section until the agency has received full funding. (F) Nothing in this section prohibits a state or local law enforcement agency's use of body-worn cameras pursuant to the agency's existing policies and procedures and funding while the agency is awaiting receipt of the Law Enforcement Training Council's guidelines, approval of the agency's policies and procedures by the Law Enforcement Training Council, and funding from the Public Safety Coordinating Council. Such an agency is eligible to apply to the Public Safety Coordinating Council for reimbursement, including, but not limited to, the initial purchase, maintenance, and replacement of body-worn cameras and ongoing costs related to maintenance and storage of data recorded by body-worn cameras. (G)(1) Data recorded by a body-worn camera is not a public record subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. (2) The State Law Enforcement Division, the Attorney General, and a circuit solicitor may request and must receive data recorded by a body-worn camera for any legitimate criminal justice purpose. (3) A law enforcement agency, the State Law Enforcement Division, the Attorney General, or a circuit solicitor may release data recorded by a body-worn camera in its discretion. (4) A law enforcement agency may request and must receive data recorded by a body-worn camera if the recording is relevant to an internal investigation regarding misconduct or disciplinary action of a law enforcement officer. (5) In addition to the persons who may request and must receive data recorded by a body-worn camera provided in item (2), the following are also entitled to request and receive such data pursuant to the South Carolina Rules of Criminal Procedure, the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure, or a court order: (a) a person who is the subject of the recording; (b) a criminal defendant if the recording is relevant to a pending criminal action; (c) a civil litigant if the recording is relevant to a pending civil action; (d) a person whose property has been seized or damaged in relation to, or is otherwise involved with, a crime to which the recording is related; (e) a parent or legal guardian of a minor or incapacitated person described in subitem (a) or (b); and (f) an attorney for a person described in subitems (a) through (e).

Legislative History

HISTORY: 2015 Act No. 71 (S.47), SECTION 1, eff June 10, 2015.