A bill that aims to reduce the administrative burden of redacting and releasing video from body worn cameras is scheduled for a hearing the first week of the 2023 legislative session.

HB 1080, sponsored by Jamila Taylor (D–Federal Way), would allow city staff to provide body worn camera footage to a defense attorney upon public records request without having to perform the currently required redactions.

Currently, defense attorneys will often request law enforcement body worn camera footage for a legal case through both a discovery process and the Public Records Act. Footage provided through the discovery process is unredacted while footage requested through the Public Records Act must be redacted. This law would allow city staff to provide unredacted footage requested through the Public Records Act if also requested as unredacted through a discovery process.

Dates to remember

HB 1080 is scheduled for public hearing and executive session in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary on January 13 at 8 am.