Pa. House GOP Spokesman: 'Police Names Bill Likely To Return'

PITTSBURGH (News Radio 1020 KDKA) - A spokesman for the state House majority leader says Gov. Tom Wolf may have to veto, for a second time, legislation that would place restrictions on releasing the names of police officers involved in shootings.

The bill would have made it a crime for law enforcement agencies to release the name of a police officer involved in a shooting, pending the outcome of the investigation, or until 30 days after the incident.

While the bill passed both the House and Senate by veto-proof margins, there are no more scheduled voting days in the current two-year session for a possible override. That means this bill would have to start over in the new session.

"We expect the bill's going to be introduced very early in the coming session. And that it will get taken up again and would probably pass again with very high majorities," House majority leader spokesman Steve Miskin said.

The legislation Wolf vetoed would have pre-empted local policies, including Philadelphia's practice of releasing the names of police officers involved in shootings within 72 hours unless the officer or their family is in danger.

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