Pennsylvania House approves audio recordings bill
The legislation would permit the use of the recordings on school buses, but school boards would have to vote on policies outlining the audiotaping rules, and parents would have to be notified. The bill had been approved by the state Senate in June, and it has since been amended to also allow police to use audio-equipped cameras anywhere except in a residence without prior court approval.
HARRISBURG, Pa. — The state House has approved legislation that would permit the use of audio recordings on school buses, The Morning Call reports.
Under the bill, school boards would have to vote on a local policy outlining audiotaping rules, send parents written notices at the beginning of each school year about audio bus recordings and post warning placards on buses about audiotaping.
The state Senate had previously approved Senate Bill 57, but it only dealt with audio recordings on yellow buses. According to The Morning Call, when Senate Bill 57 moved to the House Judiciary Committee, it was amended to also allow police to use audio-equipped cameras anywhere except in a residence without prior court approval.
The amended bill now moves back to the Senate, which could vote on it next year. Sen. Rich Alloway, the bill’s prime sponsor, told The Morning Call that he did not think the law enforcement amendment would stop the Senate from approving the bill.
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