Bill would restrict how organizations handle surveillance data

Private people and organizations would be barred from knowingly accessing, collecting, using, selling, transferring, or sharing captured surveillance data. The rule would cover individuals, businesses, nonprofits, partnerships, and other private legal or commercial entities, except government workers acting officially. The restriction would apply only when the person or organization acts knowingly. Exceptions would allow conduct covered by the bill's listed exemptions, including normal business activities, lawful court authorization, and certain toll and traffic systems. No effective date or implementation schedule is stated.

Government entities would generally be barred from knowingly accessing, collecting, using, selling, transferring, or sharing captured surveillance data. The rule would cover state agencies, public institutions, local governments, and other bodies created by state law to perform government functions. Law enforcement agencies and peace officers could handle the data during law enforcement activities. Government entities could handle it during their normal activities, under a warrant or court order, and in other circumstances authorized by law. Toll operators could use camera data only to bill road or bridge users, follow applicable legal requirements, and keep the data separate from law enforcement databases unless a warrant allows access. Traffic law photo-monitoring devices could continue operating under the applicable state law or a substantially equivalent local ordinance. No effective date or implementation schedule is stated.

Peace officers would be prohibited from knowingly handling captured surveillance data beyond the scope of their duties. Peace officers would include officers covered by the referenced state definition, plus the state highway patrol superintendent and troopers. The restriction would apply to accessing, collecting, using, transferring, or sharing the data. The conduct must be knowing for the prohibition to apply. No effective date or implementation schedule is stated.