SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Illinois officials have taken another step toward equipping police officers with body cameras.

Officials are seeking a company to supply 1,000 body cameras and 1,000 patrol car cameras to state and local law enforcement agencies. The Springfield bureau of Lee Enterprises newspapers reports the move is in response to a new law going into effect. Jan. 1.

The law doesn’t mandate body cameras, but says how they should be used. The state would help departments pay for them.

Illinois State Police spokesman Matt Boerwinkle says the bidding process sets up a framework for the agency to buy cameras in the future.

Meredith Krantz, spokeswoman with the state Department of Central Management Services, says the equipment would be made available through a joint purchasing contract for Illinois State Police and local agencies.