Game Committee 01/12/06
in-lieu-of Taxes
PA Senate: SB 868 Scarnati (R) (PN 1332)
Amends the Forest Reserves Municipal Financial Relief Law to increase the annual fixed charge on acquired lands, from $0.40 per acre to, $1.20 per acre. This is a charge, “in-lieu-of” county, township, and school taxes, paid to each entity where state owned forests are located, for a total of $3.60 per acre.
Nov 16, 2005 – Passed: 49 YEAS 1 NAY
This bill would triple the fixed charge that the PGC pays on State Game Lands, to about $3.5 million, if passed in the House and signed by the Governor, and represents about $5 per hunting license. In effect, this would be a property tax increase by another name, on sportsmen. It would also be a mandated expenditure upon a cash strapped agency, without new revenue to support it.
There are indications that the Senate passed this bill to apply to DCNR controlled forests, without realizing that it likewise applies to Game Lands, as stated in the Game Code.
TITLE 34 § 708. Payments in lieu of taxes.
The commission shall make payments in lieu of taxes on all lands, waters or buildings to which title has been acquired in the name of or for the use of the commission, which payments shall be equal to the fixed charges as apply to and are imposed upon State forests pursuant to section 1 of the act of May 17, 1929 (P.L. 1798, No. 591) referred to as the Forest Reserves Municipal Financial Relief Law.
SB 868 would also apply to the Fish and Boat Commission
TITLE 30 § 728. Exemption from taxation.
Lands, waters or buildings to which title has been acquired in the name of or for the use of the commission shall be exempt from the payment of all taxes except such fixed charges as apply to and are imposed upon Commonwealth forests
Game Committee 01/12/06
Social Security Numbers and Recreational Licenses
PA House:
HR 461 B. Smith (R) & 97 Co-sponsors (PN 3320)
“Memorializing the President and Congress of the United States to revise the requirement that applicants for hunting and fishing licenses provide their Social Security numbers.”
Dec 14, 2005 – reported from Game and Fisheries Committee
US House:
HR 4144 English (PA) Co-sponsors: Hart (PA), Holden (PA), Platts (PA)
“To eliminate the requirement that States collect Social Security numbers from applicants for recreational licenses.”
Oct 26, 2005 – introduced and referred to Committee on Ways and Means
All four sponsors are on the Ways and Means Committee. No action or addition of co-sponsors will happen until after the State of the Union Address
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Game Commission:
GAME COMMISSION TO HOLD PILOT HTE COURSE AT 2006 EASTERN SPORTS AND OUTDOOR SHOW PGC Release #145-05 Dec. 21, 2005
(excerpts)
The Pennsylvania Game Commission will conduct a special pilot Hunter-Trapper Education class on Feb. 11, during the 2006 Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show.
The new curriculum is designed to meet the standards for basic hunter education as established by the International Hunter Education Association in 1999.
Students must complete home study portions of the course prior to attending the hands-on skills training.
Hands-on skill-based objectives involve hands-on training exercises with firearms and hunting-related equipment, including live-fire or simulated live-fire exercises.
Hands-on skills training will use bolt-action .22 caliber rifles fitted with laser marksmanship training devices, mock and inert firearms, as well as video simulation.
(see PGC Release for further details)