An act CONCERNING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, the official text

Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.

1 State of Arkansas                        A Bill
2 95th General Assembly

3 Regular Session, 2025                                            HOUSE BILL 1219

4

5 By: Representative R. Scott Richardson

6 By: Senator C. Penzo

7

8                        For An Act To Be Entitled

9               AN ACT CONCERNING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS; TO

10              REQUIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND PUBLIC ENTITIES

11              THAT EMPLOY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO PROVIDE BODY-

12              WORN CAMERAS; TO REQUIRE THE RECORDING OF LAW

13              ENFORCEMENT INTERACTIONS WITH THE PUBLIC; TO REQUIRE

14              RULEMAKING; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

15

16

17                                         Subtitle

18                       TO REQUIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND

19                       PUBLIC ENTITIES THAT EMPLOY LAW

20                       ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO PROVIDE BODY-

21                       WORN CAMERAS; AND TO REQUIRE THE

22                       RECORDING OF LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERACTION

23                       WITH THE PUBLIC.

24

25 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:

26

27  SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 12, Chapter 6, is amended to add an

28 additional subchapter to read as follows:

29                       Subchapter 9 -- Body-Worn Cameras

30

31  12-6-901. Legislative intent.

32  It is the intent of the General Assembly to ensure that:

33              (1) Law enforcement officers and the public are provided the

34 protection of recorded interactions between law enforcement officers and the

35 public; and

36              (2) An accurate record of interactions between law enforcement

    *CEB045*                                                    01/24/2025 11:13:31 AM CEB045
                                                                         HB1219

1 officers and the public is available for legal and training purposes.

2

3   12-6-902. Definitions.

4   As used in this subchapter:

5           (1)(A) "Law enforcement agency" means any police department,

6 county sheriff's office, or other public agency, force, or organization whose

7 primary responsibility is the enforcement of the criminal laws, traffic laws,

8 highway laws, or game and fish laws of this state.

9                (B) "Law enforcement agency" includes without limitation a

10 college or university police department; and

11          (2)(A) "Law enforcement officer" means a person that is:

12                      (i) Employed by a law enforcement agency or other

13 public entity; and

14                      (ii) Vested by law with a duty to maintain public

15 order and make arrests for offenses.

16               (B) "Law enforcement officer" includes without limitation

17 a court bailiff, school resource officer, wildlife enforcement officer, game

18 warden, officer of the State Capitol Police, county sheriff, and chief of

19 police.

20

21  12-6-903. Body-worn cameras required.

22  (a) By December 31, 2026, a law enforcement agency or other public

23 entity that employs a law enforcement officer shall:

24          (1) Provide a body-worn camera to each law enforcement officer

25 the law enforcement agency or other public entity employs;

26          (2) Train each law enforcement officer the law enforcement

27 agency or other public entity employs in the use of a body-worn camera; and

28          (3) Enact policies and procedures governing the use of a body-

29 worn camera.

30  (b) A law enforcement officer shall:

31          (1) Wear a body-worn camera while on duty; and

32          (2) Ensure the body-worn camera records all official interaction

33 between the law enforcement officer and the public while the law enforcement

34 officer is on duty.

35

36  12-6-904. Rulemaking.

                                         2               01/24/2025 11:13:31 AM CEB045
                                                                  HB1219

1   Any state agency, department, board, or commission that employs a law

2 enforcement officer, including without limitation constitutional agencies,

3 shall promulgate rules to implement this subchapter.

4

5   SECTION 2. DO NOT CODIFY. TEMPORARY LANGUAGE.

6   (a) When adopting the initial rules required under this act, the state

7 agency, department, board, or commission shall file the final rules with the

8 Secretary of State for adoption under � 25-15-204(f):

9   (1) On or before August 1, 2026; or

10  (2) If approval under � 10-3-309 has not occurred by August 1,

11 2026, as soon as practicable after approval under � 10-3-309.

12  (b) The state agency, department, board, or commission shall file the

13 proposed rules with the Legislative Council under � 10-3-309(c) sufficiently

14 in advance of August 1, 2026, so that the Legislative Council may consider

15 the rules for approval before August 1, 2026.

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

    3                                                    01/24/2025 11:13:31 AM CEB045