Game Committee       05-10-07

 

 

 

 

Pa House

 

HB 881 Haluska: Amending Title 34 (Game), further providing for exceptions to unlawful use of lights while hunting. 

 Allows a person who uses a flashlight or spotlight held in hand or worn on the head to take furbearers.  Presently, the 

Game Code only allows a hand held light to take raccoons, skunks, opossum or foxes.  This would expand to 

all furbearers, although the penalty for hunting bobcat with a flashlight or spotlight remains intact.

Referred to Game and Fisheries Committee (03-22-07)

Reported as Committed (04-27-07)

 

HB 747 Gergely: Amending Title 34 (Game), providing for a special license and license auction to hunt one elk.  95% of the proceeds shall pay for elk habitat improvement.

Referred to Game and Fisheries Committee (03-19-07)

Reported as committed (04-27-07)

ð     The license is to be auctioned at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation national banquet, and is expected to go for  $50,000, according to Marc Gergely.

HB 13 Readshaw:  Amending the act of February 2, 1965 (P.L.1860, No.586), entitled "An act encouraging 

landowners to make land and water areas available to the public for recreational purposes by limiting liability i

n connection therewith, and repealing certain acts," further providing for liability of landowners toward recreational users,

 persons or property for acts or acts of omission by recreational users.

Referred to Game and Fisheries Committee (01-30-07)

Reported as Amended (04-25-07), Re-Reported (05-08-07) P.N. 1536

ð     When amended, the entire bill was gutted and rewritten, making it pertinent to hunting only, to make it less controversial and ensure passage before the next hunting season.  The key provision limits landowner liability to “assume responsibility for or incur liability for any injury to persons or property, wherever such persons or property are located, caused while hunting as defined in 34 PA.C.S. Sec 102 (Relating to definitions).”

 

HB 1078 Hanna:  Amending Title 34 (Game), further providing for deterrent fences for deer, bear, and elk and the payment of claims for damages (from the General Fund) by certain elk.

Referred to Game and Fisheries Committee (04-18-07), Reported as Committed (05-08-07)

ð     Applies to commercial operations, not “gardens and truck patches”.

 

HB 1116 Kortz:  Amending Title 34 (Game), providing for gift vouchers for hunting licenses, purchased by third parties.

Referred to Game and Fisheries Committee (04-18-07), Passed over (05-09-07)

                                                                                                                                           Game Committee 05-10-07 (2)

 

HB 1214 Surra:  Amending Title 34 (game), further providing for organization of the Pennsylvania Game Commission.  Decreases the term of a commissioner from eight to four years.

Referred to Game and Fisheries Committee (04-18-07), Reported as committed (05-09-07)

 

HR 193 Haluska:  Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the fiscal impact of future increased value of the assets of the Pennsylvania Game Commission in relation to the cost of licenses issued by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Referred to Game and Fisheries Committee (04-13-07), Reported as Committed (05-09-07)

ð     Directs a study of the future value of PGC timber, gas, oil, and mineral revenues, to determine how increased revenues can be used to offset funding obligations, now met through the purchase of hunting licenses.  Objective is to keep license price reasonable.

 

HR 268 Rohrer:  Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to contract for an independent study of the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s forestry and mineral development policies.  To be completed no later than June 30, 2008.

Referred to Game and Fisheries Committee (05-07-07), Reported as committed (05-09-07)

 

 

Pa Senate

 

SB 580 Madigan: Amending Title 34, permitting use of dogs in hunting for wild turkey.  Makes lawful the use of a dog to 

pursue, chase, scatter, and track wild turkeys during the fall season.

Referred to Game and Fisheries Committee (03-20-07)

Reported as committed (04-24-07)

Passed Senate by a vote of 48 to 1(05-01-07)

SB 773 McIlhinney:  Amending Title 34 (Game) further providing for commission authority to issue (commercial wildlife

 pest control) permits.

Referred to Game and Fisheries Committee (04-20-07)

SB 774 McIlhinney:  Amending Title 34 (Game) prohibiting hunting in and around game feeders and game feeding 

areas (to knowingly hunt within150 yards).

Referred to Game and Fisheries Committee (04-20-07) 

SB 137 Rhoades:  Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, authorizing

 the use of the initiative and referendum as powers reserved to the people.  (Proposed initiative measure to be signed,

 by 8% for a statute and 10% for an amendment, of the total number of electors casting a ballot for Governor in the previous 

election, and by at least 5% of registered electors in each of the 36 counties.)

Referred to State Government Committee (03-05-07)

ð     This would open the door for anti-hunting and anti-gun groups (with the help of the media) to implement 

hunting and trapping bans along with gun control measures, as has been successfully done in other states 

with ballot initiative. 

Withdrawn (05-08-07) . . . for further study.