Body-worn cameras: policies.

Senator Wahab's body-worn camera legislation requires California law enforcement agencies to update their policies by July 1, 2026, establishing protocols for protecting patient privacy during medical and psychological evaluations. The measure creates guidelines for officers to temporarily limit recordings in situations where patients might experience embarrassment or humiliation, such as when receiving emergency medical care involving exposed intimate areas.

The bill mandates procedures allowing emergency service personnel to request redaction of recordings showing medical or psychological treatment. While giving officers discretion to respond appropriately across various scenarios, the legislation explicitly preserves existing protections under medical privacy laws, including the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act and HIPAA. The updates supplement current body-worn camera requirements regarding data storage, retention periods, and access restrictions.

Local law enforcement agencies must incorporate these new provisions into their existing body-worn camera policies, with the state potentially reimbursing implementation costs if determined necessary by the Commission on State Mandates. The measure maintains public access rights to recorded data under the California Public Records Act while adding specific protections for sensitive medical situations.