A Republican bill that would require law enforcement agencies to develop policies requiring its personnel to wear body cameras sailed through the State Senate but failed this week on the Assembly floor where many Democrats — including Assemblymember Das Williams — abstained from the vote.
The bill, SB 175, comes at a time when police aggression and body cameras for sworn officers have become major national issues. Authored by Republican Senator Bob Huff, the bill would not mandate body-cams for all officers, but it would give agencies local control in implementing a body-camera policy. The bill is not officially dead, but it will turn into a two-year attempt if the bill is not amended and passed off the Assembly floor before the legislative session ends on September 11.
Williams, according to his office, abstained from the vote because he felt the bill needed more work before it could be implemented. “In particular, Legislators feel that there needs to be a statewide policy with oversight on the matter,” an aide said in an email. “There is a concern that, as people travel around the state, inconsistencies can create problems.”