Bills › 90th General Assembly
Relating to confidential records including booking photographs
Sponsored by the House Public Safety Committee
Topics:Crime & correctionsState governmentPublic safety & emergencies
Same legislation: HSB 531
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 9, 2024
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 9, 2024
- Done: House committeeJanuary 31, 2024
- Stopped: Passes the HouseDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Senate committee
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2024 session adjourned on April 19, 2024, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Booking photographs taken by police after an arrest are now considered private records. Law enforcement or judges can only share these photos if the person is a fugitive, poses a danger to the public, or if a court orders it. The photos can also be released if the person is convicted or pleads guilty to the crime.1
Read the official explanation
This bill relates to confidential records including booking photographs. The bill defines “booking photograph” as a photograph or still, nonvideo image of a person generated by a law enforcement agency for identification purposes after an arrest or while the person is in the law enforcement agency’s custody. The bill provides that a booking photograph is a confidential record, but may be released, published, or disseminated for any of the following reasons: the person in the booking photograph is a fugitive, and releasing or disseminating the booking photograph will assist in apprehending the person; a law enforcement agency or prosecuting agency determines that the person is an imminent threat to an individual or to public safety; a judge orders the release or dissemination of the booking photograph to further a legitimate interest; or the person is convicted or pleads guilty to a criminal offense for which the person was arrested and a booking photograph was taken.
Why it matters. Law enforcement and prosecuting agencies would be able to release or publish booking photographs under specific circumstances, such as when a person is a fugitive, an imminent threat to public safety, or has been convicted or pleaded guilty to a crime. These images are otherwise considered confidential records.2
House subcommittee
Named January 9, 2024 (as HSB 531). On January 16, 2024 it recommended passage. Vote Total: 3-0.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
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90th General Assembly
Picked up later
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.
Similar bills
- HF 47 Relating to confidential records including booking photographs91st General Assembly · Approved by committeeNearly identical
- SF 69 Relating to confidential records including booking photographs91st General Assembly · Subcommittee recommends passageSimilar
Matched by wording or an identical title.