Game Committee      07-13-06

 

 

 

 

 

PASSED IN HOUSE

 

SB 868 Scarnati   (PN 1970)  (prior 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.   

06-29-06:  Amended in the House to pay the fixed charge increase from the State Gaming Fund and Net Slot Machine Revenue Distribution.  Passed 176 – 19.  Returned to Senate for concurrence with Senate Bill.

 

HB 420 Good (PN 4281) Amends Title 34 providing for, Dogs pursuing, big game. --Subject to regulations promulgated by the commission, a person who owns, controls or harbors a single dog that is maintained on a leash at all times may use the dog to track big game, excluding turkey, that have been killed or wounded by another person who is engaged in lawful hunting of such big game.

06-19-06:  Amended to allow the tracker and accompanying person(s) to possess a firearm capable of killing the game only during hunting hours.  Passed 194 – 3.  =>The Previous Printer’s Number prohibited the carrying of a firearm.

 

 

PASSED IN SENATE

 

SB 1244 Conti (PN 1873) Amends Title 34 eliminating the provision that allows retired WCO’s, Rangers, and Police Officers to issue citations for Game Code violations.

06-28-06:  Passed 49 – 0

 

HB 1528 Wilt (PN 4309) Amends Titles 3 and 34 to transfer the licensing of taxidermists from the Game Commission to the Department of Agriculture.

06-29-06:  Passed 49 – 0

06-30-06:  House concurred in Senate Amendments

07-07-06:  Signed by Governor – Act # 77

 

 

House Game and Fisheries Committee Action

 

HB 2650 Smith (PN 4020) Amends Title 34 providing for a ninth Game Commissioner as an “at large” seat and “tie breaker” vote.

06-21-06:  Reported to House as committed

                                                                                                       Game Committee     (2)

 

HB 1695 Gergely (PN 4331) Amends Title 34 providing for a special license, and license auction to hunt one elk, as a revenue raising measure.

06-21-06: Reported to the House as amended

 

HB 84 Hanna (PN 78) Amends Title 34 providing for game enforcement officers, when in the performance of duty, to pursue, apprehend or arrest any individual suspected of violating any provision of Title 18 (crimes and offenses) or Title 75 (vehicles) or any other misdemeanor or felony, and to serve and execute warrants and subpoenas.

06-21-06:  Passed over

 

Bills introduced

 

HB 2789 Petrarca (PN 4264) Amends Title 34 establishing hunting and trapping as property rights which cannot be taken away without due process of law.

06-21-06:  Referred to House Game and Fisheries Committee

 

HB 2829  Phillips (PN 4341) Amends Title 34 prohibiting the use of facsimiles of game or wildlife for law enforcement purposes.

06-22-06:  Referred to House Game and Fisheries Committee

ð      This would prohibit the use of “Robo-Deer” to trap roadside hunters.

 

HB 2747 Fleagle (PN 4185) Amends Title 34 to make it unlawful to hunt from a boat of any kind regardless of the means of power, unless the motor has been completely shutoff or sail furled, the progress has ceased, and the game being hunted is a squirrel or water fowl.

06-12-06:  Referred to House Game and Fisheries Committee

 

HB 2861 Godshall (PN 4433) Amends Title 30 (Fish) providing for the use of commission owned land for recreational hunting; contains a “no net loss provision.

06-29-06:  Referred to House Game and Fisheries Committee

 

HB 2863  Godshall  (PN 4435)  Amends Title 34 (Game) providing for recreational hunting on commission owned lands; contains a “no net loss” provision.

06-29-06:  Referred to House Game and Fisheries Committee

 

HB 2862   Godshall  (PN 4434) Amends Conservation and Natural Resources Act to provide for recreational hunting on DCNR owned land; contains a “no net loss” provision.

06-29-06:  Referred to House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee

 

SB 1245  Conti  (PN 1844)  Amends Title 34 to allow the use of non-living bait and electronic or mechanical devices to hunt foxes.

06-29-06:  Referred to Senate Game and Fisheries Committee           

 

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ð      It was reported in phillyburbs.com that Representative Bruce Smith is backing away from his proposed $20 Conservation Stamp legislation, due to negative feedback.