COLUMBUS- On Tuesday, May 15, at 2:30 pm the ACLU of Ohio will testify before the House Government Accountability and Oversight Committee to support HB 425, legislation that addresses concerns of personal privacy, police accountability, and government transparency when analyzing the use of police body cameras. The passage of HB 425 will establish Ohio as a national leader in providing assistance and guidance on the use of police body cameras, in a balanced and thoughtful way. The following statement is attributable to Gary Daniels, chief lobbyist for the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio:

“The ongoing adoption and use of body cameras by law enforcement across Ohio presents several different and intertwined issues, ranging from personal privacy to police accountability to open records laws.  To date, the Ohio General Assembly has enacted no laws regarding these critical issues.  This has led to a patchwork of individual policies around the state when some amount of uniformity would best serve Ohio and its residents.  HB 425 provides much-needed and overdue guidance from the legislature regarding how these various interests should be properly balanced.  The passage of HB 425 will establish Ohio as a leader in how to thoughtfully and thoroughly consider these matters.”

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Read the written testimony of House Bill 425