NC H706

Requires law enforcement officers in counties with populations over 200,000 to wear and activate body-worn cameras during recordable interactions with the public, including traffic stops, arrests, searches, and interrogations.

Establishes exceptions to camera activation including confidential informant interactions, routine non-law-enforcement activities, private residence entries without consent, strip searches without consent, and victim/witness interviews without consent.

Requires law enforcement agencies to retain original, unredacted recordings for at least 60 days or until any administrative, civil, or criminal proceeding concludes, whichever is later.

Allows public access to body-worn camera recordings through written request, with agencies permitted to redact portions not required to be recorded; denials may be appealed to the General Court of Justice for compulsory disclosure.

Appropriates $5 million in nonrecurring funds for fiscal years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 to provide grants (maximum $100,000 per agency) for purchasing and maintaining body-worn cameras, requiring a 1:5 local match of nongrant funds.