TRENTON — Senator James Beach has introduced legislation that would give local law enforcement officials access to school district cameras under limited circumstances.
Under the bill, introduced Monday, school districts equipped with surveillance cameras capable of live streaming to a remote location would be required to give local law enforcement officials access to the live stream. The live stream would give law enforcement officials the ability to quickly assess the situation inside a school in case of an emergency, such as a shooter on campus. Access would be granted under specific circumstances, and law enforcement officials must designate specific individuals who can access the system and develop a plan for preventing and detecting unauthorized access.
“Unfortunately, we have seen too many violent incidents at our nation’s schools, and we should take advantage of modern technology if it can help combat the problem and save lives,” said Beach (D-Camden, Burlington). “This bill helps protect the safety of students by giving law enforcement officials quick eyes in a school building while also establishing strong privacy protections.”