An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses), 30 (Fish), 34 (Game), 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) and 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in wiretapping and electronic surveillance, further providing for definitions and repealing provisions relating to public access; in enforcement relating to fish, further providing for powers and duties of waterways conservation officers and deputies; in enforcement relating to game, further providing for powers and duties of enforcement officers; in recordings by law enforcement officers, further providing for definitions and for audio recording or video recording policies; in Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, further providing for powers and duties of Department of Corrections; and making transfers between the State Gaming Fund and certain restricted accounts.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lisa Baker and 11 co-sponsors

Pennsylvania expands law enforcement powers across surveillance, fish/game enforcement, and corrections while modifying body camera requirements and redirecting gaming revenues.

Act No. 53 of 2025

Legislative bill overview

SB 520 is a comprehensive criminal justice and law enforcement reform bill that amends Pennsylvania law across multiple areas: wiretapping/surveillance regulations, fish and game enforcement officer powers, police body camera policies, and probation/parole department authorities. The bill also redirects gaming fund revenues to restricted accounts.

Why is this important

These changes affect law enforcement practices statewide, including surveillance capabilities, officer authorities during enforcement activities, and documentation requirements. The modifications to wiretapping definitions and body camera policies directly impact privacy rights and police accountability, while officer power expansions affect how fish/game enforcement operates. Gaming fund transfers affect state budget allocations for criminal justice infrastructure.

Potential points of contention

Wiretapping definition changes: Amendments to surveillance definitions and "repealing provisions relating to public access" could reduce transparency around electronic surveillance, raising civil liberties concerns

Expanded officer powers: Broader authorities granted to fish/game enforcement officers and corrections officials may increase enforcement scope without corresponding accountability mechanisms

Body camera policy discretion: "Further providing for audio recording or video recording policies" leaves implementation details unclear—could permit opt-out scenarios or selective recording that undermines accountability goals

Gaming fund transfers: Moving revenues between the State Gaming Fund and restricted accounts lacks detail on beneficiary programs and fiscal impact

Multi-title scope: The bill's breadth across five titles bundling unrelated criminal justice issues limits focused legislative debate on individual policy areas