Post by melody on Jun 13, 2014 19:40:57 GMT -5
Senate Game and Fisheries Committee
6/11/14, Rules Committee Conference Room
By Mike Howells, PLS
The committee met to consider bills.
HB 1144 Haluska, Gary - (PN 1402) Amends Title 34 (Game) by amending the definition of “bow” to include a device held in place by a brace secured around the body of the hunter and to include a crossbow which, when used for hunting deer, bear or turkey, has a draw weight of no less than 125 pounds and uses arrows tipped with broadheads of a cutting edge design. Effective in 60 days. - The bill was unanimously reported as committed.
HB 2169 Gabler, Matt - (PN 3527) Amends Title 34 (Game) reauthorizing the “Special Elk Conservation Tag” and creating a second special tag to be utilized by the Keystone Elk Country Alliance. A recipient selected to receive a license must be subjected to a background check prior to being awarded the license. The Commission shall hold a random drawing of applications for the issuance of elk licenses under this subsection at the Elk Country Visitor Center in the Township of Benezette. Provides for rules governing the raffle. Effective immediately. (Prior Printer Number: 3358) - The bill was unanimously reported as committed.
A07342 by Alloway, removes language pertaining to the implementation of the Elk Management Raffle. The amendment was unanimously adopted
Sen. Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) said the tags are “enough of a draw” and offered his support for the amendment. Minority Chairman Rich Kasunic (D-Fayette) also agreed.
SB 1332 Kasunic, Richard - (PN 1928) Amends Title 34 (Game) defining “unmanned aircraft”; in game or wildlife protection, adding that disturbance of game or wildlife includes activity where a person who is not engaged in lawful activities intentionally drives or disturbs game or wildlife by means of unmanned aircraft; and, in hunting and furtaking, adding that interference with lawful taking of wildlife includes using an unmanned aircraft in a manner that interferes with another person’s lawful taking of game or wildlife. The bill provides for exceptions. Effective in 60 days. - The bill was unanimously reported as committed.
SB 1334 Kasunic, Richard - (PN 1929) Amends Title 30 (Fish) defining “unmanned aircraft”; and, in enforcement, adding that prohibited interference with lawful fishing and boating includes the use of an unmanned aircraft in a manner that interferes with another person’s lawful fishing or boating. The bill provides for exceptions and penalties. Effective in 60 days. - The bill was unanimously reported as committed.
Speaking to both bills, Chairman Kasunic said anti-hunting and fishing advocates in other states are increasingly using drones to disrupt those activities. He said the measures are a pre-emptive one to prevent it from spreading into Pennsylvania.
SB 1348 Wiley, Sean - (PN 2089) Amends Title 30 (Fish), in special licenses and permits, further providing for Lake Erie fishing permits by stipulating that no person shall fish in Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and their tributaries, including waters that flow into those tributaries, without first procuring an annual special permit to fish in Lake Erie and tributaries or a combination trout/salmon permit and Lake Erie permit. The proceeds from the fees for the special permits to fish in Lake Erie and tributaries may also be used for other projects that support public fishing on or at Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and their tributaries. Effective immediately. - The bill was unanimously reported as committed.
SB 1402 Hutchinson, Scott - (PN 2092) Amends Title 34 (Game), in hunting and furtaking, further providing for unlawful devices and methods adding that semiautomatic rifle may be used to hunt coyotes and woodchucks in accordance with regulations of the commission except during regular firearm season for deer, regular firearm season for bear, and spring and fall season for turkey. Effective in 60 days. - The bill was unanimously reported as committed.
Chairman Kasunic asked if the bill specifies any calibers in particular. Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) said the bill does not address any specifically.
6/11/14, Rules Committee Conference Room
By Mike Howells, PLS
The committee met to consider bills.
HB 1144 Haluska, Gary - (PN 1402) Amends Title 34 (Game) by amending the definition of “bow” to include a device held in place by a brace secured around the body of the hunter and to include a crossbow which, when used for hunting deer, bear or turkey, has a draw weight of no less than 125 pounds and uses arrows tipped with broadheads of a cutting edge design. Effective in 60 days. - The bill was unanimously reported as committed.
HB 2169 Gabler, Matt - (PN 3527) Amends Title 34 (Game) reauthorizing the “Special Elk Conservation Tag” and creating a second special tag to be utilized by the Keystone Elk Country Alliance. A recipient selected to receive a license must be subjected to a background check prior to being awarded the license. The Commission shall hold a random drawing of applications for the issuance of elk licenses under this subsection at the Elk Country Visitor Center in the Township of Benezette. Provides for rules governing the raffle. Effective immediately. (Prior Printer Number: 3358) - The bill was unanimously reported as committed.
A07342 by Alloway, removes language pertaining to the implementation of the Elk Management Raffle. The amendment was unanimously adopted
Sen. Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) said the tags are “enough of a draw” and offered his support for the amendment. Minority Chairman Rich Kasunic (D-Fayette) also agreed.
SB 1332 Kasunic, Richard - (PN 1928) Amends Title 34 (Game) defining “unmanned aircraft”; in game or wildlife protection, adding that disturbance of game or wildlife includes activity where a person who is not engaged in lawful activities intentionally drives or disturbs game or wildlife by means of unmanned aircraft; and, in hunting and furtaking, adding that interference with lawful taking of wildlife includes using an unmanned aircraft in a manner that interferes with another person’s lawful taking of game or wildlife. The bill provides for exceptions. Effective in 60 days. - The bill was unanimously reported as committed.
SB 1334 Kasunic, Richard - (PN 1929) Amends Title 30 (Fish) defining “unmanned aircraft”; and, in enforcement, adding that prohibited interference with lawful fishing and boating includes the use of an unmanned aircraft in a manner that interferes with another person’s lawful fishing or boating. The bill provides for exceptions and penalties. Effective in 60 days. - The bill was unanimously reported as committed.
Speaking to both bills, Chairman Kasunic said anti-hunting and fishing advocates in other states are increasingly using drones to disrupt those activities. He said the measures are a pre-emptive one to prevent it from spreading into Pennsylvania.
SB 1348 Wiley, Sean - (PN 2089) Amends Title 30 (Fish), in special licenses and permits, further providing for Lake Erie fishing permits by stipulating that no person shall fish in Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and their tributaries, including waters that flow into those tributaries, without first procuring an annual special permit to fish in Lake Erie and tributaries or a combination trout/salmon permit and Lake Erie permit. The proceeds from the fees for the special permits to fish in Lake Erie and tributaries may also be used for other projects that support public fishing on or at Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and their tributaries. Effective immediately. - The bill was unanimously reported as committed.
SB 1402 Hutchinson, Scott - (PN 2092) Amends Title 34 (Game), in hunting and furtaking, further providing for unlawful devices and methods adding that semiautomatic rifle may be used to hunt coyotes and woodchucks in accordance with regulations of the commission except during regular firearm season for deer, regular firearm season for bear, and spring and fall season for turkey. Effective in 60 days. - The bill was unanimously reported as committed.
Chairman Kasunic asked if the bill specifies any calibers in particular. Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) said the bill does not address any specifically.