MS HB1391

Municipal governing authorities must provide all police officers on patrol with body-worn cameras worn on uniforms, defined as devices that electronically record audio and video of officer activities.

County boards of supervisors must include allocations for body-worn cameras in annual sheriff's office budgets and ensure each deputy on patrol wears a body-worn camera.

Police officers and deputy sheriffs who fail to wear body-worn cameras while on patrol are guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 or imprisonment not to exceed six months, or both.

The bill amends Mississippi Code sections 21-21-3 (municipal police), 19-25-13 (county sheriff budgets), and 19-25-21 (deputy sheriff requirements) to establish body-worn camera requirements.

The act takes effect July 1, 2017.