Game and Fish Committee 11/12/02

The Game and Fisheries Committee met on Tuesday November 12, 2002 and reported out the following bills:

As Amended

SB 133 (Corman) Vote 9-0 This bill exempts boats that are part of a cavern operation from the definition of a "passenger- carrying boat."

SB 463 (Kasunic) Vote 9-1 ( Waugh voted no) Establishes a mandatory boater education program

Game and Fish Committee 6/24/02

The Game and Fisheries Committee met on Monday June 24, 2002 and reported out the following bill:

As Amended (Unanimous)

House Bill 1482 (PN4083) (J. Evans) This legislation amends Title 30 of the Fish and Boat Code to provide that money from special Lake Erie fishing permits be distributed to holders of gill net permits no later than July 10, 2002. It then provides that the balance of the money be used to purchase a piece of property on Lake Erie for the purpose of public fishing and access.

Note: Senator Kasunic also offered an amendment which would have provided that all boaters be required to take a boater education course in order to operate a power boat. Senator Kasunic withdrew the amendment when concern was raised that the House would not concur if the bill went back over with this specific amendment attached .

Game and Fish Committee 4/29/02

The Senate Game and Fisheries Committee met on Monday, April 29, 2002 and reported the following bills:

As Committed (unanimously)

Senate Bill 1243 (PN 1600) (Helfrick) This bill amends Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. It provides that $4.25 form each resident and non-resident hunting licence, and $2 from each anterless deer license to go towards habitat improvement projects on lands under control or operation of the Commission.

As Committed: (10-1)

Senate Bill 1158 (PN1449) (White)  This bill adds a definition to Section 102 of Title 34 relating to "Cervidae livestock operations "and amends the definition of "game animals" Cervidae (elk) farming would now be under the definition of a farm operation. This does exclude elk which are imported or purchased for hunting.

As Amended (unanimously)

Senate Bill 1242 (PN 1940) (Helfrick) This bill provides for the Commission to purchase three tracts of land in located in Clearfield, Pike and Schuylkill counties for the purpose of game lands. Senator Helfrick offered an amendment which excludes the tract in Pike County and adds two additional tracts where one is located in Columbia and Schuylkill Counties and the other is in Elk and Jefferson Counties.

As Amended: (7-4)

House Bill 2125, (PN 3768) (B. Smith)   This bill amends Sections 2308 and 2505 of Title 34. Section 2308 is amended to allow for hunting over bait in certain areas. Section 2505 is amended to increase safety zone violation fines. Senator Helfrick offered a further amendment to amend Sections 901 and 902 to provide that a game official's vehicle be recognized as an "emergency vehicle." The amendment will also exclude deputies from the "emergency vehicle" provisions.