SB 518 — An Act amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Pennsylvania Game Commission, further providing for organization of commission; in game or wildlife protection, further providing for report to commission officer, for surrender of carcass to commission officer, for unlawful activities and for killing game or wildlife to protect person; and, in hunting and furtaking, further providing for investigation and seizure of game or wildlife.

HOUSE AMENDED PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.

481 PRINTER'STHE NO.GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.

1014518 THE2025 GENERALINTRODUCED ASSEMBLYBY OFROTHMAN, PENNSYLVANIALAUGHLIN, SENATEHUTCHINSON BILLAND SessionKEEFER, MARCH 25, 2025 REFERRED TO GAME AND FISHERIES, MARCH 25, 2025 AN ACT Amending Title 34 (Game) of No.the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in game or wildlife protection, further providing for unlawful activities and for killing game or wildlife to protect person;

518 2025 INTRODUCED BY ROTHMAN, LAUGHLIN, HUTCHINSON, KEEFER AND DUSH, MARCH 25, 2025 AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, JUNE 25, 2025 AN ACT Amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, IN PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION, FURTHER PROVIDING <-- protection, further providing for REPORT TO COMMISSION <-- OFFICER, FOR SURRENDER OF CARCASS TO COMMISSION OFFICER, FOR unlawful activities and for killing game or wildlife to protect person;

Sections 2126(a)(6), 2141(b) and 2313(a) of Title <-- 34 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:

SECTION 1.

SECTION 301(A) OF TITLE 34 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA <-- CONSOLIDATED STATUTES IS AMENDED AND THE SECTION IS AMENDED BY ADDING A SUBSECTION TO READ:

§ 301.

ORGANIZATION OF COMMISSION.

(A) COMPOSITION.--THE INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATIVE COMMISSION KNOWN AS THE PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION SHALL CONSIST OF NINE COMPETENT CITIZENS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH WHO SHALL BE WELL INFORMED ON THE SUBJECT OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION AND WHO SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, BY AND WITH THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF A MAJORITY OF THE ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE SENATE.

THE GOVERNOR SHALL ENSURE THAT AT LEAST ONE MEMBER APPOINTED TO THE COMMISSION REPRESENTS THE INTEREST OF AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES THAT PERTAIN TO NORMAL AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS AND WILDLIFE.

* * * (E) DEFINITIONS.--AS USED IN THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND PHRASES SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS SUBSECTION UNLESS THE CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES OTHERWISE:

"AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY." AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2 OF THE ACT OF JUNE 10, 1982 (P.L.454, NO.133), REFERRED TO AS THE RIGHT-TO- FARM LAW.

"NORMAL AGRICULTURAL OPERATION." AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2 OF THE RIGHT-TO-FARM LAW.

SECTION 2.

SECTIONS 2122, 2125, 2126(A)(6), 2141(B) AND 2313(A) OF TITLE 34 ARE AMENDED TO READ:

§ 2122.

REPORT TO COMMISSION OFFICER.

ANY PERSON WHO KILLS ANY GAME OR WILDLIFE, OTHER THAN RACCOONS, UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBCHAPTER SHALL, WITHIN 24 HOURS, REPORT, ORALLY OR IN WRITING, THE KILLING TO AN OFFICER OF THE COMMISSION.

THE REPORT SHALL SET FORTH THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE OF THE KILLING, THE NUMBER OF SPECIES KILLED [AND THE SEX OF THE SPECIES.], THE SEX OF THE SPECIES AND THE LOCATION OF EACH CARCASS.

THE COMMISSION SHALL ESTABLISH A SELF- REPORTING SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS A PERSON ASSIGNED TO REMOVE DEER FOR CROP DAMAGE PURPOSES TO REPORT EACH HARVEST TO AN OFFICER OF THE COMMISSION VIA A TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER, ONLINE APPLICATION OR PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE INTERNET WEBSITE.

20250SB0518PN1014 - 2 - § 2125.

SURRENDER OF CARCASS [TO COMMISSION OFFICER].

EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS SUBCHAPTER, THE ENTIRE CARCASS, INCLUDING THE HEAD AND HIDE, OF ALL BIG GAME ANIMALS AND THE ENTIRE CARCASS OF ANY OTHER GAME OR WILDLIFE, OTHER THAN RACCOONS, LESS ENTRAILS, SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE, UNLESS OTHERWISE DIRECTED BY AN OFFICER OF THE COMMISSION, INTACT, [LESS ENTRAILS,] TO ANY COMMISSION OFFICER CALLING FOR THEM[.] OR DELIVERED TO A PROCESSOR FOR FINAL DISPOSITION.

AS USED IN THIS SECTION, THE TERM "PROCESSOR" MEANS A LOCATION SPECIFIED BY THE COMMISSION THAT IS WILLING TO ACCEPT DONATIONS OF ANIMALS TAKEN UNDER THIS CHAPTER.

[The person killing the game or wildlife shall answer, without evasion, any 20250SB0518PN1014 - 3 - pertinent questions of the officer making the investigation.] * * * § 2313.

[(a) Response to questions.--The operator of any vehicle or craft transporting any game or wildlife shall answer, without evasion, any pertinent question posed by a commission officer.] * * * Section 22. 3.

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