Kansas lawmakers want to limit release of police video

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – Kansas lawmakers want to restrict public access to law enforcement body camera footage in an effort to protect the privacy of people caught on camera.

A bill introduced by the House judiciary committee last week would limit release of the video to the people in the footage, their attorneys and their parents if they are minors. The public would have access to footage only through a court order.

Under the current law, most of the footage is a public record available to anyone who asks for it.

Proponents say regulation would protect the public’s privacy. A critic said the bill doesn’t go far enough to balance privacy rights and the value of the cameras as an accountability tool.