Local lawmakers support expanded body camera use

Camera Bartolotta and Pat Stefano were among the sponsors of the legislation in the state Senate.

A bill that would that would expand body camera use among law enforcement to increase accountability and safety passed the state Senate last month with support from local legislators.

State Sen. Camera Bartolotta, R-Carroll Township, and Pat Stefano, R-Bullskin Township, were sponsors of Senate Bill 520, which would authorize the use of body cameras by special agents with the office of attorney general, rangers with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and officers and deputies with the Pennsylvania Game and Fish and Boat Commissions.

“This is a vital tool for law enforcement,” state Attorney General Dave Sunday said. “Office of Attorney General agents face dangerous individuals and situations each day when conducting investigations, executing search warrants and making arrests. Body cameras have proven to be a critical tool to protect law enforcement and the communities they serve. I urge quick passage of Senate Bill 520 to allow us to equip our agents with body cameras.”

The bill also updates the legal framework for body camera usage by changing the definition of “law enforcement officer” under the Wiretap Act. This would add consistency in how body camera footage is recorded and managed, regardless of the department using it.

The bill has moved on to the state House, where it received approval from the House Judiciary Committee earlier this month. State Rep. Andrew Kuzma, R-Elizabeth, voted in favor of passing it through the Judiciary Committee.

So far the bill has received bipartisan support from Democrats and Republicans in the state House and Senate. The prime sponsor, Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Susquehanna, said it would help law enforcement in dangerous environments.

“This is a common sense, bipartisan bill that strengthens both officer safety and public trust,” Baker said. “These officers often serve in remote or dangerous environments. Equipping them with body cameras helps protect their safety and provides an objective record of their interactions with the public.”

The bill now would require a floor vote in the House, where it could eventually reach Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk.