(WHTM) — Swatting has become an increasingly serious issue across the country, as well as in Pennsylvania, and a state lawmaker is taking action.

State Rep. Craig Williams (R-Delaware/Chester) introduced a bill that targets the rise of swatting across the Commonwealth. The bill seeks to implement stricter punishments for those who make false swatting calls.

“This bill will make clear that the elements of the crime, it’s a swatting bill, just like the federal legislation,” said Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer. “You cannot commit this kind of a hoax to try to intentionally create an emergency response from law enforcement, from emergency response, first responders, without being held accountable.”

Swatting has become an increasingly significant problem nationwide. A total of 446 swatting incidents happened on U.S. school campuses alone during the 2022-23 school year.

“I’ve introduced two bills, the first of which would make it a felony in Pennsylvania to commit the crime of swatting, which is intentionally trying to seek a law enforcement response to something that is not true, a threat that’s not true,” Williams said. “And then the second bill would provide for restitution, which is the fancy legal word for allowing the court to order a defendant to repay any of the costs that come from the law enforcement response.”

Lawmakers say these incidents pose a unique risk for both the victim of the swatting and the law enforcement officers responding to the calls.

“We train as best we can,” said Sollsteimer. “Active shooter drills. We do it in Delaware County. We do a great training through our Chief of Police Association, but when it’s real life, it is very dangerous, and you don’t know who might innocently be around the other corner.”

The legislation is expected to be voted on next week.