HB 59 — An Act amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in hunting and furtaking, further providing for interference with lawful taking of wildlife or other activities permitted by this title prohibited.

Bill Text

• Printer's No. PN0048 View text Current pdf

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill amends existing law to clarify and expand the definitions of activities that interfere with lawful hunting and sets specific penalties for violations.

• 34 Pa.C.S. § 2302

  (1) drives or disturbs wildlife for the purpose of disrupting the lawful taking of wildlife where another person is engaged in the process of lawfully taking wildlife or other permitted activities;

  Introduces new prohibited activity related to disturbing wildlife to interfere with lawful taking.

• 34 Pa.C.S. § 2302

  (2) blocks, impedes or otherwise harasses another person who is engaged in the process of lawfully taking wildlife or other permitted activities;

  Specifies harassment of individuals engaged in lawful wildlife taking as an offense.

• 34 Pa.C.S. § 2302

  (3) uses natural or artificial visual, aural, olfactory or physical stimuli to affect wildlife behavior in order to hinder or prevent the lawful taking of wildlife or other permitted activities;

  Prohibits the use of stimuli to alter wildlife behavior in a way that obstructs lawful taking.

• 34 Pa.C.S. § 2302

  (4) creates or erects barriers with the intent to deny ingress or egress to areas where the lawful taking of wildlife or other permitted activities may occur;

  Makes it illegal to create barriers that block access to lawful taking areas.

• 34 Pa.C.S. § 2302

  (5) interjects himself into the line of fire;

  Defines entering the line of fire during lawful taking as a prohibited action.

• 34 Pa.C.S. § 2302

  (6) affects the condition or placement of personal or public property intended for use in the lawful taking, viewing, photographing or video recording of wildlife or other permitted activities in order to impair its usefulness or prevent its use;

  Prohibits actions that impair the use of property designated for lawful wildlife activities.

• 34 Pa.C.S. § 2302

  (7) enters or remains upon public lands or upon private lands without permission of the owner or their agent, with intent to violate this section;

  Criminalizes unauthorized entry onto lands with the intent to disrupt lawful wildlife activities.

• 34 Pa.C.S. § 2302

  (8) fails to obey the order of any officer whose duty it is to enforce any of the laws of this Commonwealth where such officer observes any conduct which violates this section or has reasonable grounds to believe that any person intends to engage in such conduct.

  Establishes noncompliance with law enforcement orders regarding wildlife taking as an offense.

• 34 Pa.C.S. § 2302

  [A]

  Removes the existing introductory phrase to section (d) related to penalties.

• 34 Pa.C.S. § 2302

  a summary offense of the second degree. → a violation of this section is a summary offense of the second degree.

  Clarifies the penalty designation for violations.

• 34 Pa.C.S. § 2302

  2) A violation of subsection (a)(6) is a summary offense of the first degree. In addition to any penalty, the violator shall be denied the right to hunt or trap in this Commonwealth, with or without a license, for a period of one year.

  Establishes a more severe penalty for specific violations related to affecting property used in lawful taking.

Action History

1. March 07, 2023

   Referred to Game & Fisheries

Sponsors

• Mark M. Gillen · Cosponsor
• Brett R. Miller · Cosponsor
• Clint Owlett · Cosponsor
• David H. Rowe · Cosponsor
• Ryan Warner · Cosponsor
• Joe Emrick · Primary
• David H. Zimmerman · Cosponsor

Subjects