‘Resolve, To Establish the Work Group To Study the Use of Body Cameras by Law Enforcement Officers’

‘Sec. 1. Work Group To Study the Use of Body Cameras by Law Enforcement Officers established. Resolved: That the Work Group To Study the Use of Body Cameras by Law Enforcement Officers, referred to in this resolve as "the work group," is established.

Sec. 2. Work group membership. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the work group consists of 9 members appointed as follows:

1. One member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate;

2. Two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House;

3. The Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee; and

4. Five members appointed by the Attorney General. The 5 members appointed by the Attorney General must include 3 representatives of law enforcement agencies at the local, county and state levels; one representative of a statewide organization that works to further the interests of municipalities; and one representative of a statewide organization that works to ensure the privacy rights of citizens of the State.

Sec. 3. Chair. Resolved: That the Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee shall serve as chair of the work group.

Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of work group. Resolved: That all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all appointments have been completed. After appointment of all members, the chair shall call and convene the first meeting of the work group. If 30 days or more after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been made, the chair may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for the work group to meet and conduct its business.

Sec. 5. Notice of meetings. Resolved: That the Attorney General shall provide notice of the meetings of the work group to the general public and to the following organizations: the Maine Prosecutors Association, the Maine Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Maine Chiefs of Police Association, the Maine Sheriffs' Association, the Maine State Police, the Maine Association of Police, the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine, the Immigrant Resource Center of Maine, the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, the Maine Hospital Association, the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the National Alliance on Mental Illness - Maine, the Maine Municipal Association, the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault and the Maine Commission on Domestic and Sexual Abuse.

Sec. 6. Duties. Resolved: That the work group shall study the use of body cameras by law enforcement officers, review current practices in the State and outside of the State, review research on the use of body cameras and, before issuing its report pursuant to section 8, consider the following issues with regard to the use of body cameras by law enforcement officers on a voluntary basis and on a mandatory basis as required by law, rule or policy applicable to the law enforcement agency:

1. Cost and potential revenue sources;

2. Whether to mandate use and operation or adoption of a policy regarding use and operation;

3. Collective bargaining issues;

4. Ownership, use, storage and chain of custody issues;

5. Training for officers and supervisors;

6. Recording sensitive or private situations and circumstances;

7. Promoting accountability, privacy and transparency;

8. Providing access to individuals involved in the criminal justice system, the public and the court;

9. Meeting the needs of different communities and populations; and

10. Respect for victims of crime and their families and children.

Sec. 7. Staff assistance. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the Legislative Council shall provide necessary staffing services to the work group, except that Legislative Council staff support is not authorized when the Legislature is in regular or special session.

Sec. 8. Report. Resolved: That, no later than March 1, 2020, the work group shall submit a report that includes its findings and any work group recommendations, including suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety.’