HB 21-1250: Law Enforcement Accountability

• All local law enforcement agencies and Colorado State Patrol must provide body-worn cameras for officers who interact with the public by July 1, 2023; officers must activate cameras during calls for service and civilian interactions, with failure to activate creating a rebuttable presumption of misconduct.

• Police agencies must release unedited video and audio recordings within 21 days upon request when complaints of misconduct are filed; redactions permitted only for substantial privacy concerns involving victims, minors, medical information, and similar sensitive content.

• Peace officers who intentionally fail to activate or tamper with body-worn camera footage in incidents resulting in civilian death or serious bodily injury face permanent certification revocation by the P.O.S.T. board; lesser incidents result in at least one-year suspension.

• Officers convicted of unlawful use of physical force or failure to intervene in unlawful force resulting in serious bodily injury or death face permanent decertification; creates duty for officers to intervene to stop excessive force by other officers without regard to chain of command.

• Establishes database of decertified officers, untruthful statements, and terminations for cause; requires law enforcement agencies to check this database before hiring new officers and provides whistleblower protections against retaliation.