Florida Senate - 2026                                     SB 504
       
       
        
       By Senator Burgess
       
       
       
       
       
       23-00349A-26                                           2026504__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to code inspector body cameras;
    3         creating s. 162.41, F.S.; defining terms; requiring a
    4         governmental entity that permits its code inspectors
    5         to wear body cameras to establish certain policies and
    6         procedures; requiring such governmental entity to
    7         ensure that certain training occurs, to retain certain
    8         data in accordance with public records laws, and to
    9         perform a periodic review of actual body camera
   10         practices; providing that certain provisions relating
   11         to the interception of wire, electronic, and oral
   12         communications do not apply to body camera recordings
   13         made by code inspectors; providing an effective date.
   14          
   15  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   16  
   17         Section 1. Section 162.41, Florida Statutes, is created to
   18  read:
   19         162.41 Code inspector body cameras; policies and
   20  procedures.—
   21         (1) As used in this section, the term:
   22         (a) “Body camera” means a portable electronic recording
   23  device worn on a code inspector’s person which records audio and
   24  video data of the code inspector’s encounters and activities.
   25         (b) “Code inspector” has the same meaning as in s.
   26  162.04(2).
   27         (2) A governmental entity that permits its code inspectors
   28  to wear body cameras shall establish policies and procedures
   29  addressing the proper use, maintenance, and storage of body
   30  cameras and the data recorded by body cameras. The policies and
   31  procedures must include all of the following:
   32         (a) General guidelines for the proper use, maintenance, and
   33  storage of body cameras.
   34         (b) Any limitation on which code inspectors are permitted
   35  to wear body cameras.
   36         (c) Any limitation on code enforcement-related encounters
   37  and activities in which code inspectors are permitted to wear
   38  body cameras. A code inspector must be permitted to use a body
   39  camera to record any encounter with a member of the public which
   40  occurs while the inspector is performing his or her duties.
   41         (d) General guidelines for the proper storage, retention,
   42  and release of audio and video data recorded by body cameras.
   43         (3) A governmental entity that permits its code inspectors
   44  to wear body cameras shall do all of the following:
   45         (a) Ensure that all personnel who wear, use, maintain, or
   46  store body cameras are trained in the governmental entity’s body
   47  camera policies and procedures.
   48         (b) Retain audio and video data recorded by body cameras in
   49  accordance with the requirements of s. 119.021, except as
   50  otherwise provided by law.
   51         (c) Perform a periodic review of actual body camera
   52  practices to ensure conformity with the governmental entity’s
   53  body camera policies and procedures.
   54         (4) Chapter 934 does not apply to body camera recordings
   55  made by code inspectors who elect to use body cameras.
   56         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.