A bill requiring state and local agencies to file an accountability report when using or intending to use facial recognition technology received a Senate hearing.

SB 6280, sponsored by Senator Joe Nguyen (D–West Seattle), was heard in the Environment, Energy, & Technology Committee on Wednesday, January 15. The bill requires state and local government agencies that use or are considering the use of facial recognition services to develop an accountability report every two years and submit it to the state. Agencies that use facial recognition services would be required to submit an annual report in addition to the accountability report. Both reports would be required to be publicly available.

The accountability report would require agencies to disclose:

• The name of the facial recognition service, vendor, and version;
• A description of its capabilities including any potential capabilities;
• What types of data inputs the system collects;
• How the system will be used and benefit the community; and
• Training procedures and safeguards for protecting collected data.

Prior to submitting the accountability report, agencies would be required to hold a public review and comment period, as well as a community consultation meeting during the public review period.

The annual report would need to include:

1. How the agency uses the facial recognition service;
2. An assessment of compliance with the safeguards and training established in the accountability report;
3. Any violations of established compliance measures, as well as any complaints received; and
4. Any recommended updates to the accountability report.

Agencies would be required to hold community meetings to review the annual report within 60 days of the report’s public release.

The legislation also specifies requirements regarding public notification, testing prior to deployment, independent testing for accuracy across distinct subpopulations, and periodic operator training.

SB 6280 creates a task force on facial recognition services including two members from law enforcement.

AWC has concerns about multiple reporting requirements and is advocating to reduce that to an annual report.

Dates to remember

This bill is scheduled to move out of committee on Thursday, January 23.