THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY DEASY, GERGELY, RAVENSTAHL, V. BROWN, D. COSTA, CREIGHTON, DeLUCA, FABRIZIO, HARHAI, HARHART, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, KOTIK, MAHONEY, MANN, MURT, SABATINA, SCHRODER AND YOUNGBLOOD, APRIL 25, 2012

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, APRIL 25, 2012  

AN ACT

Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes, further providing for exceptions to

prohibition of interception and disclosure of communications.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 5704 of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a paragraph to read:

§ 5704.  Exceptions to prohibition of interception and

disclosure of communications.

It shall not be unlawful and no prior court approval shall be

required under this chapter for:

* * *

(17)  (i)  A person to intercept oral communications for

disciplinary or security purposes on a school bus or

school vehicle, as those terms are defined in 75 Pa.C.S.

§ 102 (relating to definitions), if all of the following

conditions are met:

(A)  The school board has adopted a policy that

authorizes audio interception on school buses or

school vehicles for disciplinary or security

purposes.

(B)  Each school year, the school board notifies

students and their parents or guardians of the

policy, by letter mailed to the students' home

addresses.

(C)  The school board posts a notice that

students may be audiotaped, which notice is clearly

visible on each school bus or school vehicle that is

furnished with audio-recording equipment.

(ii)  This paragraph shall not apply when a school

bus or school vehicle is used for a purpose that is not

school related.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect immediately.