BODY CAMERAS-FOIA REQUESTS

Deletes changes to the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act and the Criminal Code of 2012. Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that a public body may charge fees reflecting its actual costs up to $40 for each hour spent by personnel in searching for and retrieving a requested recording or examining the record for or applying necessary redactions on requests for recordings that are made pursuant to the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act, unless the request is made by: (1) a court order; (2) the subject of the encounter or the subject's legal representative; (3) a witness to the encounter or the witness's representative, if the encounter resulted in the recording being flagged; (4) a representative of the news media, as defined in the Act; or (5) a nonprofit, scientific, or academic organization when the principal purpose of the request is (i) to access and disseminate information concerning news and current or passing events, (ii) for articles of opinion or features of interest to the public, or (iii) for the purpose of academic, scientific, or public research or education. Provides that a public body shall respond to requests for recordings within 5 business days after the receipt of the request with an estimated time that will be required for the public body to provide the recordings requested and an estimate of the fees to be charged. Further provides that the public body shall have an additional 5 business days to respond to a request once payment of the estimated fee is made, as well as any extensions allowed under any other applicable provisions of the Act. Specifies that if the requester fails to pay the required estimated fees within 30 days after the public body requests payment of the estimated fee, then the public body may deny the request. Requires a public body that imposes a fee under the provisions of the amendatory Act must provide the requester with an accounting of all fees, costs, and personnel hours in connection with the request for public records and must apply a new balance or refund based on the actual cost versus the paid estimate. Authorizes a waiver of fees under the amendatory Act if the requester can demonstrate that the purpose of the request is to access and disseminate information in order to further the interest of the health, safety, and welfare or the legal rights of the community.

Status

Engrossed

Passed its first chamber

Status date

May 21, 2026

175 days ago

Current chamber

House of Representatives

Session

2025-2026 Regular Session