1     
LAW ENFORCEMENT RECORDING RELEASE AMENDMENTS

2     
2021 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Mark A. Wheatley

5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

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7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill mandates the release of law enforcement video recordings in certain situations.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     requires the release of the recording of a law enforcement incident that resulted in
13     death or bodily injury, or when an officer fired a weapon, within 10 days after
14     receiving notice of the incident; and
15          ▸     requires the release of the recording of an incident that is the subject of a complaint
16     or legal proceeding that alleges an officer's use of excessive force, within 10 days
17     after receiving notice of the filing of the complaint or legal proceeding.
18     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
19          None
20     Other Special Clauses:
21          None
22     Utah Code Sections Affected:
23     AMENDS:
24          77-7a-107, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 71
25     

26     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
27          Section 1. Section 77-7a-107 is amended to read:

28          77-7a-107. Retention and release of recordings.
29          (1) (a) Any recording made by an officer while on duty or acting in the officer's official
30     capacity as a law enforcement officer shall be retained in accordance with applicable federal,
31     state, and local laws.
32          (b) Any recording made by an officer while on duty or acting in the officer's official
33     capacity as a law enforcement officer may not be retained, electronically or otherwise, by a
34     private entity if the private entity has any authority to:
35          (i) withhold the recording; or
36          (ii) prevent the political subdivision from accessing or disclosing the recording.
37          (c) (i) Notwithstanding Subsection (1)(b), a political subdivision may continue to retain
38     a recording in a manner prohibited under Subsection (1)(b) if the political subdivision is under
39     contract with a private entity on May 7, 2018, and the contract includes terms prohibited by
40     Subsection (1)(b).
41          (ii) A political subdivision may not renew a contract described in Subsection (1)(c)(i).
42          (d) This Subsection (1) does not prohibit a political subdivision from using a private
43     entity's retention or redaction service if the private entity does not have authority to:
44          (i) withhold the recording; or
45          (ii) prevent the political subdivision from accessing or disclosing the recording.
46          (2) (a) Any release of recordings made by an officer while on duty or acting in the
47     officer's official capacity as a law enforcement officer shall be subject to Title 63G, Chapter 2,
48     Government Records Access and Management Act.
49          (b) Notwithstanding any other provision in state or local law, a person who requests
50     access to the recordings may immediately appeal to a district court, as provided in Section
51     63G-2-404, any denial of access to a recording based solely on Subsection 63G-2-305(10)(b) or
52     (c) due to a pending criminal action that has been filed in a court of competent jurisdiction.
53          (3) Notwithstanding Title 63G, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and
54     Management Act:
55          (a) after an incident between an officer and an individual that results in death or serious
56     bodily injury, or during which an officer fires a weapon, the records custodian shall release
57     each recording of the incident within 10 days after the day on which the records custodian
58     receives notice of the incident; and

59          (b) when a complaint or legal proceeding is filed that alleges an officer's use of
60     excessive force, the records custodian shall release each recording of the incident within 10
61     days after the day on which the records custodian receives notice of the filing of the complaint
62     or legal proceeding.