Senators made additional changes to a cumbersome facial recognition bill during floor action.

SB 6280 establishes significant requirements for cities wishing to use facial recognition programs. The newly adopted amendment includes the following:

• Increases the number of representatives from advocacy groups on the privacy task force from two to eight;
• Adds two representatives from consumer protection organizations to the privacy task force;
• Clarifies that facial recognition services may not be used for ongoing surveillance unless there is probable cause to believe that an individual has committed, is engaged in, or is about to commit a felony;
• Adjusts the accountability report to include a department’s protocols responding to a security breach as well as providing information related to the rates of false matches; and
• Exempts services used to grant or deny access to electronic devices. Programs used to redact an individual's face from recordings are also exempt.

AWC remains opposed to this bill in its current form. AWC advocates for a single annual report, rather than the multiple reports and processes required in the legislation.

Dates to remember

SB 6280 is scheduled for public hearing in the House Innovation, Technology & Economic Development Committee at 8 am on Wednesday, February 26. The bill is scheduled for a committee vote at 8 am on Friday, February 28.