ACK!!! IT’S BAAACCKK!!!!!
Last week, members of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee overwhelmingly voted against SB 1178, sponsored by Senator Randolph Bracy (D-Ocoee). The bill would create a public record exemption for photographs, video, or audio recordings that depict or record the killing of a person.
The breadth of this proposed exemption and its possible impact on public accountability is breathtaking. Just look at the definition of the phrase “killing of a person” – ALL acts or events that cause or otherwise relate to a person’s death. Body camera video? Dash cam video? At a time when police and citizen confrontations remain important state and national issues, video and audio recordings are crucial in determining the facts. The importance of public access to such images and recordings cannot be overstated.
SB 1178 failed by a vote of 4/2 last week. Then a motion was made to temporarily postpone the bill, which meant the chance of it coming back before the committee was slim, but here we are.
SB 1178 is scheduled for reconsideration by the Senate Criminal Justice Committee (chaired by Sen. Bracy!) on Monday, February 12, at 3:30 PM in room 37.
Senator Bracy can be contacted at bracy.randolph@flsenate.gov or 850/487-5011.
Here’s a link to information on the Criminal Justice Committee, including links to each of the members: http://bit.ly/2BiOtWP
If you have questions about SB 1178 or any of the other bills currently on our tracking list, please contact Barbara Petersen at 800/337-3518 or sunshine@floridafaf.org.