Relating to the prosecution of the criminal offense of invasive visual recording and the applicability of sex offender registration requirements to that offense.

Contracts

• Security Vendor MSAs: Amend Master Service Agreements with security integrators immediately. Require indemnification for any installation that violates Penal Code 21.15.
• Commercial & Residential Leases: Update lease terms to strictly prohibit tenants from installing "smart home" or surveillance devices that capture images of neighboring units, common areas with privacy expectations, or bedrooms.
• Employment Agreements: Revise "Termination for Cause" definitions to explicitly include possession of unauthorized recording devices, noting that such actions will be reported as sexual offenses.

Hiring/Training

• Background Checks: While this is a new trigger for registration, ensure background check criteria flag *any* prior history of invasion of privacy, as these individuals now pose a catastrophic liability risk.
• Staff Training: Retrain housekeeping, maintenance, and security staff. They must understand that placing a phone or camera in a locker room or guest room is no longer just a firing offense—it is a sex crime that will put them on a public registry.
• Device Detection: Hospitality housekeeping protocols must now include visual sweeps for hidden devices (e.g., in smoke detectors, alarm clocks, or USB chargers) as part of room turnover procedures.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

• Surveillance Mapping: Create and maintain a schematic of all institutional cameras. You must be prepared to demonstrate to law enforcement that your fixed cameras do not view areas where individuals disrobe or sleep.
• Incident Reporting: If a hidden device is found, the incident report must treat the object as evidence of a sex crime. Establish a strict Chain of Custody log; do not handle the device more than necessary before law enforcement arrival.

Fees & Costs

• Insurance Premiums: Expect potential increases in Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI).
• Coverage Gaps: Review your General Liability policies immediately. Many policies exclude coverage for "sexual molestation/abuse" or "criminal acts." With this offense now tied to sex offender registration, carriers may deny defense costs for civil suits resulting from an employee's recording.