NC H932

Most law enforcement officers in counties with populations over 200,000 must wear and activate body-worn cameras during recordable interactions with the public, with exceptions for confidential informants, routine activities, trainings, private residences without consent, strip searches without consent, and victim/witness interviews without consent.

Officers must inform individuals they are being recorded when safe and practicable, announce deactivation of cameras with reasons, and note in incident reports that recordings were made; failure to comply is admissible as evidence in criminal or civil proceedings.

Body-worn camera recordings are not public records for 15 days after recording, then automatically released unless a law enforcement agency or authorized person petitions court for extended confidentiality of up to 30 days; disclosure to specific persons allowed through written request process.

$5,000,000 appropriated for fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 to the Governor's Crime Commission for grants to law enforcement agencies to purchase and maintain body-worn cameras, with grants requiring a 1:5 match of nongrant funds and capped at $100,000 per agency.

State Bureau of Investigation and North Carolina State Crime Laboratory receive cost-free access to view and analyze recordings; provisions become effective January 1, 2023, except body-worn camera requirements effective December 1, 2021, and grant program effective July 1, 2021.