Game Committee      08-10-06

 

 

 

 

 

In-lieu-of taxes

 

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.

 

07-01-2006:  Senate Concurred

07-07-2006:  Approved by Governor – Act 102

 

 

 

 

Federal Legislation

 

S 1496 Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2005 (passed both House and Senate; signed by the President on 08-03-2006, Public Law # 109-266) A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a 3 year pilot program under which up to 15 States may issue electronic Federal migratory bird hunting stamps. The electronic stamp will be an electronic version of the actual stamp, printed on paper, with a unique identifier for the individual to whom it is issued. 

It will be issued through a state automated licensing system (includes point-of-sale). 

A participating state may charge a reasonable fee to cover the costs incurred under the program, including costs of delivery of actual stamps. 

The purpose of the program is to “enable hunters to take to the fields more quickly and easily.”

 

ð      Pennsylvania does not yet have an approved “point-of-sale” system, however, the groundwork has been laid for one.  The Electronic Duck Stamp could be the catalyst to implement “point-of-sale” in Pa.