HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsored by Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20) to expand the use of body-worn cameras to additional law enforcement personnel is almost law.
Senate Bill 520 authorizes body camera use 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 Commission and the Fish and Boat Commission.
“Providing more law enforcement professionals with access to body cameras strengthens accountability and transparency, while also supporting officers in the performance of their duties,” Baker said. “This legislation reflects our commitment to improving public safety, building trust and ensuring consistent standards across agencies.”
The bill also consolidates and modernizes the legal framework governing body camera usage by updating the definition of law enforcement officer under the Wiretap Act, aligning policies across agencies and repealing outdated provisions. These changes ensure the uniform recording and management of body camera footage regardless of the department using the technology.
Since its introduction, the legislation has been supported by the Office of the Attorney General.
“I strongly support body cameras for law enforcement who face potential danger every time they respond to a dispatch or call,” Attorney General Dave Sunday said. “Our agents deal with some of the most violent individuals in the Commonwealth when they execute search warrants, make vehicle stops, and conduct arrests, and they deserve the protection that cameras provide. There is also an obligation of public transparency – body cameras give officers an indisputable account of what happened during an interaction. I thank Sen. Baker and all legislative leaders who pushed for this necessary legislation that makes our agents safer and fulfills the need for accountability and transparency.”
After being passed in the Senate and House of Representatives, the bill now heads to the governor to be signed into law.
CONTACT: Jennifer Wilson