A 336: Requires the use of body-worn cameras on certain correction officers.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 336 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled) January 8, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. JACKSON -- read once and referred to the Commit- tee on Correction AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to establishing a pilot program for the use of body-worn cameras on certain correction offi- cers The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The correction law is amended by adding a new section 135 2 to read as follows: 3 § 135. Body camera for correction officers pilot program. 1. The 4 commissioner shall, after consultation with the chairperson of the state 5 commission of corrections, establish a pilot program providing for the 6 use of a body-worn personal video recording device on certain correction 7 officers assigned to the supervision of general population incarcerated 8 individuals at a maximum security facility. No fewer than fifty 9 correction officers in a single shift shall be selected to participate 10 in this pilot program. Each officer chosen shall wear a personal video 11 recording device affixed to their uniform while on duty in the facility 12 chosen for such pilot program. The personal video recording device shall 13 record all the interactions of a correction officer and incarcerated 14 individuals under their care, custody and control. The recording shall 15 include both audio and video. 16 2. All such equipment shall be installed on or before six months after 17 the effective date of this section. The commissioner shall promulgate 18 all rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this 19 section. Such rules and regulations shall require that all video 20 recordings be catalogued and maintained as a record by the department 21 for not less than six months and shall establish minimum standards for 22 the personal video recording devices, and recording equipment to be used 23 and furthermore shall provide for the protection of personal privacy for EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD00595-01-5 
 A. 336 2 1 those persons whose actions may be recorded. No personal video recording 2 devices may be used as a means to conduct surveillance upon any incar- 3 cerated individuals, officer or employee of the department. 4 3. The commissioner shall issue a report within six months of the 5 completion of the pilot program detailing the use of and evaluating the 6 effectiveness of personal video recording devices including what impact, 7 if any, the use of body-worn personal cameras has on assaultive behav- 8 iors, serious injury, death, and other indicators of increased physical 9 safety of incarcerated individuals, officers and personnel, and which 10 shall also provide relevant recommendations. 11 § 2. This act shall take effect six months after it shall have become 12 a law.