HOUSE AMENDED
        PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 298, 1057, 1071          PRINTER'S NO. 1350

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


SENATE BILL

No. 279 Session of 1983


        INTRODUCED BY O'CONNELL, SINGEL, SNYDER, HELFRICK, REIBMAN AND
           ANDREZESKI, FEBRUARY 15, 1983

        AS RE-REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON GAME AND FISHERIES, HOUSE OF
           REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, OCTOBER 12, 1983

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1225, No.316), entitled
     2     "An act concerning game and other wild birds and wild
     3     animals; and amending, revising, consolidating, and changing
     4     the law relating thereto," further providing menagerie         <--
     5     permits for educational purposes FOR APPLICATIONS AND PERMITS  <--
     6     FOR MENAGERIES; FURTHER PROVIDING FOR PERMITS TO DEAL IN AND
     7     POSSESS WILDLIFE; AND PROVIDING FOR REFUNDS OF CERTAIN FEES;   <--
     8     AND FURTHER PROVIDING FOR PENALTIES.

     9     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
    10  hereby enacts as follows:
    11     Section 1.  Section 417 402 of the act of June 3, 1937         <--
    12  (P.L.1225, No.316), known as The Game Law, amended March 13,      <--
    13  1982 (P.L.185, No.60) OCTOBER 4, 1983 (NO.40), is amended to      <--
    14  read:
    15     SECTION 402.  APPLICATION FOR PERMITS.--ANY PERSON, FIRM,      <--
    16  ASSOCIATION, OR CORPORATION DESIRING A PERMIT, AS PROVIDED FOR
    17  IN THIS ARTICLE, SHALL PRESENT AN APPLICATION THEREFOR, ON FORMS
    18  SUPPLIED BY THE COMMISSION, AND SHALL PAY TO THE DIRECTOR THE
    19  FOLLOWING FEES: PERMIT FOR A DISABLED PERSON TO HUNT FROM AN


     1  AUTOMOBILE, ONE DOLLAR ($1); COLLECTING PERMIT, TEN DOLLARS
     2  ($10); FALCONRY PERMIT, TEN DOLLARS ($10); FUR DEALER'S EMPLOYES
     3  PERMIT, TEN DOLLARS ($10); PERMIT FOR POSSESSING OR OWNING A      <--
     4  FERRET OR FITCH, TEN DOLLARS ($10); PERMIT TO RELEASE AND RETRAP
     5  BOBWHITE QUAIL FOR DOG TRAINING PURPOSES, TEN DOLLARS
     6  ($10);MENAGERIE, [THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($300)] ONE HUNDRED
     7  DOLLARS ($100); GAME PROPAGATION, FIFTEEN DOLLARS ($15); FUR
     8  FARMING, FIFTEEN DOLLARS ($15); TAXIDERMISTS DESIRING TO
     9  PRACTICE TAXIDERMY FOR PROFIT SHALL PAY FIFTY DOLLARS ($50) FOR
    10  INITIAL APPLICATION AND PERMIT, AND TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS ($25)
    11  PER YEAR THEREAFTER FOR RENEWAL OF PERMIT; RESIDENT FUR DEALERS,
    12  TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS ($25); NONRESIDENT FUR DEALERS, PURCHASING
    13  OR RECEIVING RAW FURS FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IN THIS
    14  COMMONWEALTH, SHALL PAY ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100); PERSONS
    15  DESIRING TO OPERATE REGULATED SHOOTING GROUNDS ON A NON-
    16  COMMERCIAL BASIS SHALL PAY TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS ($25) FOR THE
    17  FIRST ONE HUNDRED ACRES IN THE TRACT SO USED, AND FIVE DOLLARS
    18  ($5) FOR EACH ADDITIONAL ONE HUNDRED ACRES OR FRACTION THEREOF;
    19  PERSONS DESIRING TO OPERATE REGULATED SHOOTING GROUNDS ON A
    20  COMMERCIAL BASIS SHALL PAY FIFTY DOLLARS ($50) FOR THE FIRST ONE
    21  HUNDRED ACRES, AND TEN DOLLARS ($10) FOR EACH ADDITIONAL ONE
    22  HUNDRED ACRES, OR FRACTION THEREOF; AND BREEDERS AND DEALERS IN
    23  FERRETS OR FITCHES SHALL PAY FIFTY DOLLARS ($50); SPECIAL
    24  RETRIEVER DOG TRAINING AREA PERMIT, THIRTY-FIVE DOLLARS ($35);
    25  WILDLIFE DEALER'S PERMIT, [FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($500)] TWO
    26  HUNDRED DOLLARS ($200); AND FOR A WILDLIFE POSSESSION PERMIT,
    27  [TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ($200)] FIFTY DOLLARS ($50) FOR EACH
    28  ANIMAL.
    29     IN THE CASE OF APPLICATIONS FOR PERMITS BY FIRMS,
    30  ASSOCIATIONS, OR CORPORATIONS, THE APPLICATION SHALL BEAR THE
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     1  NAME OF THE PRESIDENT OR GENERAL MANAGER, AND THE PERMIT SHALL
     2  BE ISSUED IN [HIS NAME] THE NAME OF THE FIRM, ASSOCIATION OR
     3  CORPORATION IF IT IS REGISTERED WITH THE COMMONWEALTH OR
     4  OTHERWISE IN THE NAME OF THE PRESIDENT OR GENERAL MANAGER. ALL
     5  APPLICATIONS FOR PROPAGATING PERMITS AND REGULATED SHOOTING
     6  GROUNDS PERMITS SHALL BE ACCOMPANIED BY A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION
     7  AND A MAP OR SKETCH OF THE PREMISES TO BE USED FOR SUCH
     8  PURPOSES, WITH THE LOCATION THEREOF.
     9     SECTION 2.  THE HEADING OF SUBDIVISION (H) OF ARTICLE IV OF
    10  THE ACT IS AMENDED TO READ:
    11           (H)  PERMITS TO MAINTAIN [ROADSIDE] MENAGERIES
    12     SECTION 3.  SECTIONS 417, 417.2 AND, 418 AND 419(M), (O.1)     <--
    13  AND (O.2) OF THE ACT, ADDED OR AMENDED MARCH 13, 1982 (P.L.185,
    14  NO.60), ARE AMENDED TO READ:
    15     Section 417.  Permits for Menageries.--(a)  The commission
    16  may grant permits for menageries which are hereby defined as any
    17  place where one or more wild birds or wild animals or one or
    18  more birds or animals which have similar characteristics and
    19  appearance of birds or animals wild by nature are kept in
    20  captivity for the evident purpose of exhibition with or without
    21  charge.
    22     (b)  The director may issue a menagerie permit to any person
    23  for the exclusive purpose of displaying LAWFULLY ACQUIRED         <--
    24  wildlife native to Pennsylvania for educational purposes which    <--
    25  permit shall be issued free of charge. The phrase "educational
    26  purposes" shall mean displays by or for public or private
    27  schools, sportsmen's organizations, Boy Scout Troops, Girl Scout  <--
    28  Troops, YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS, CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS, conservation     <--
    29  camps and schools or any other organization deemed appropriate
    30  by the director.
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     1     (c)  The term "menagerie" shall not include the exhibition of
     2  any wild bird or wild animal in any public zoological garden,
     3  which receives government grants or appropriations OR IN ANY      <--
     4  PRIVATE ZOOLOGICAL PARK OR GARDEN WHICH IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
     5  AND WHICH IS ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF
     6  ZOOLOGICAL PARKS AND AQUARIUMS, or by any nationally recognized
     7  circus. [Any sportsmen's club or organization incorporated under  <--
     8  the laws of this Commonwealth may sponsor and conduct a
     9  menagerie at an annual county fair and under such circumstances
    10  the menagerie permit shall be issued free of charge.] The term    <--
    11  "wildlife" as used in this section shall mean any wild bird or
    12  wild animal or any bird or animal having similar characteristics
    13  and appearance of a bird or animal wild by nature as
    14  distinguished from the common domestic birds or animals, whether
    15  or not such birds or animals were bred or reared in captivity.
    16     (d)  No permit shall be granted by the commission until it is
    17  satisfied that the provisions for housing and caring for such
    18  wildlife, and for protecting the public, are proper and
    19  adequate, and in accordance with the standard therefor
    20  established by the commission.
    21     (e)  The commission shall adopt and enforce rules and
    22  regulations for the housing, care, treatment, feeding,
    23  sanitation, purchase and disposal of wildlife kept in
    24  menageries, and for the protection of the public from injury by
    25  such wildlife.
    26     (f)  It is unlawful for any person, firm, association or
    27  corporation to keep any wildlife in captivity, for public
    28  exhibition or to have any wildlife in custody or control for
    29  such purpose, without first securing a menagerie permit issued
    30  by the commission.
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     1     (g)  It shall be unlawful for the holder of a menagerie
     2  permit to violate any of the provisions of this act or rules and
     3  regulations adopted thereunder by the commission or to release
     4  any wildlife into the wild. In addition to the cash penalties
     5  hereinafter provided, the director of the commission may, for
     6  violating any of the provisions of this section or rules and
     7  regulations adopted thereunder, revoke or suspend any menagerie
     8  permit and order the disposal of any wildlife held.
     9     (H)  ONE MENAGERIE PERMIT SHALL ENABLE THE HOLDER THEREOF TO   <--
    10  OPERATE ANY NUMBER OF MENAGERIES OWNED BY PERMIT HOLDER AT
    11  TEMPORARY LOCATIONS FOR DISPLAY PURPOSES DURING THE PERMIT YEAR.
    12     SECTION 417.2.  PERMITS TO DEAL IN WILDLIFE.--THE COMMISSION
    13  MAY ISSUE PERMITS TO PERSONS, FIRMS, ASSOCIATIONS OR
    14  CORPORATIONS TO ACT AS WILDLIFE DEALERS WHICH SHALL AUTHORIZE
    15  THE HOLDER THEREOF TO IMPORT INTO THE COMMONWEALTH, POSSESS,
    16  BUY, SELL, LOCATE OR FIND FOR A FEE, BARTER, DONATE OR OTHERWISE
    17  DISPOSE OF WILDLIFE. A WILDLIFE DEALER SHALL MEAN ANY PERSON WHO
    18  IMPORTS INTO THE COMMONWEALTH, POSSESSES, BUYS, SELLS, LOCATES
    19  OR FINDS FOR A FEE, BARTERS, DONATES OR OTHERWISE DISPOSES OF
    20  MORE THAN ONE BIRD OR ONE ANIMAL CLASSIFIED AS WILDLIFE DURING
    21  ANY CALENDAR YEAR. A WILDLIFE DEALER SHALL NOT INCLUDE A PUBLIC
    22  ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN WHICH RECEIVES GOVERNMENTAL GRANTS OR
    23  APPROPRIATIONS, OR A PRIVATE ZOOLOGICAL PARK OR GARDEN WHICH IS   <--
    24  OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND WHICH IS ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN
    25  ASSOCIATION OF ZOOLOGICAL PARKS AND AQUARIUMS, OR ANY PERSON,
    26  FIRM, ASSOCIATION OR CORPORATION WHO OR WHICH HOLDS A MENAGERIE
    27  PERMIT, PROVIDING THE PURCHASE OR SALE OF WILDLIFE OR OTHER
    28  AUTHORIZED TRANSACTION IS CONDUCTED FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF
    29  MAINTAINING STOCK FOR SUCH MENAGERIE, OR ANY NATIONALLY
    30  RECOGNIZED CIRCUS.
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     1     WHENEVER USED IN THIS SECTION, THE WORD ["WILDLIFE," UNLESS
     2  FURTHER DEFINED BY RESOLUTION OF THE COMMISSION,] "WILDLIFE"
     3  SHALL MEAN, ALL BEARS, ALL COYOTES, ALL LIONS, ALL TIGERS, ALL
     4  LEOPARDS, ALL JAGUARS, ALL CHEETAHS, ALL COUGARS, ALL WOLVES AND
     5  ANY CROSSBREED OF SUCH ANIMALS WHICH HAVE SIMILAR
     6  CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ANIMALS SPECIFIED HEREIN. [IN ORDER TO
     7  PROPERLY ADMINISTER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION, THE
     8  COMMISSION MAY, BY RESOLUTION, ADD ANY BIRD OR ANIMAL TO OR
     9  REMOVE ANY BIRD OR ANIMAL FROM THE CLASSIFICATION OF WILDLIFE.]
    10     NO PERMIT PROVIDED FOR IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE GRANTED BY
    11  THE COMMISSION UNTIL IT IS SATISFIED THAT THE PROVISION FOR
    12  HOUSING AND CARING FOR SUCH WILDLIFE, AND FOR PROTECTING THE
    13  PUBLIC, ARE PROPER AND ADEQUATE AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
    14  STANDARD ESTABLISHED BY RULES AND REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY THE
    15  COMMISSION.
    16     IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON, FIRM, ASSOCIATION OR
    17  CORPORATION TO IMPORT INTO THE COMMONWEALTH, POSSESS, BUY, SELL,
    18  LOCATE OR FIND FOR A FEE, BARTER, DONATE, OR OTHERWISE DISPOSE
    19  OF MORE THAN ONE BIRD OR ONE ANIMAL CLASSIFIED AS WILDLIFE IN
    20  ANY CALENDAR YEAR WITHOUT FIRST SECURING A PERMIT AS REQUIRED IN
    21  THIS SECTION. IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON, FIRM,
    22  ASSOCIATION OR CORPORATION TO RELEASE WILDLIFE, AS DEFINED IN
    23  THIS SECTION, INTO THE WILD.
    24     IN ADDITION TO THE PENALTIES HEREINAFTER PROVIDED, THE
    25  DIRECTOR MAY, FOR ANY VIOLATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
    26  SECTION OR RULES AND REGULATIONS ADOPTED THEREUNDER, REVOKE OR
    27  SUSPEND ANY PERMIT AND ORDER THE DISPOSAL OF ANY WILDLIFE HELD.
    28     SECTION 418.  PERMITS TO POSSESS WILDLIFE.--THE COMMISSION
    29  MAY ISSUE PERMITS TO PERSONS TO POSSESS WILDLIFE WHICH SHALL
    30  AUTHORIZE THE HOLDER THEREOF TO PURCHASE, RECEIVE OR POSSESS
    19830S0279B1350                  - 6 -

     1  WILDLIFE FROM ANY LAWFUL SOURCE FROM WITHIN OR OUTSIDE OF THIS
     2  COMMONWEALTH. WHENEVER USED IN THIS SECTION, THE WORD
     3  ["WILDLIFE," UNLESS FURTHER DEFINED BY RESOLUTION OF THE
     4  COMMISSION,] "WILDLIFE" SHALL MEAN ALL BEARS, ALL COYOTES, ALL
     5  LIONS, ALL TIGERS, ALL LEOPARDS, ALL JAGUARS, ALL CHEETAHS, ALL
     6  COUGARS, ALL WOLVES AND ANY CROSSBREED OF SUCH ANIMALS WHICH
     7  HAVE SIMILAR CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ANIMALS SPECIFIED HEREIN.
     8  [IN ORDER TO PROPERLY ADMINISTER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION,
     9  THE COMMISSION MAY, BY RESOLUTION, ADD ANY ANIMAL TO OR REMOVE
    10  ANY ANIMAL FROM THE CLASSIFICATION OF WILDLIFE.] THE PROVISIONS
    11  OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT INCLUDE ANY PUBLIC ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN
    12  WHICH RECEIVES GOVERNMENT GRANTS OR APPROPRIATIONS, OR ANY        <--
    13  PRIVATE ZOOLOGICAL PARK OR GARDEN WHICH IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
    14  AND WHICH IS ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF
    15  ZOOLOGICAL PARKS AND AQUARIUMS, ANY PERSON, FIRM, ASSOCIATION OR
    16  CORPORATION WHICH HOLDS A MENAGERIE PERMIT, OR ANY NATIONALLY
    17  RECOGNIZED CIRCUS.
    18     NO PERMIT PROVIDED FOR IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE GRANTED BY
    19  THE COMMISSION UNTIL IT IS SATISFIED THAT THE PROVISIONS FOR
    20  HOUSING AND CARING FOR SUCH WILDLIFE AND FOR PROTECTING THE
    21  PUBLIC ARE PROPER AND ADEQUATE AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
    22  STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BY RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE
    23  COMMISSION.
    24     IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON TO POSSESS, PURCHASE OR
    25  RECEIVE WILDLIFE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES WITHOUT FIRST SECURING
    26  A PERMIT AS REQUIRED IN THIS SECTION. IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR
    27  ANY PERSON TO RELEASE WILDLIFE AS DEFINED IN THIS SECTION INTO
    28  THE WILD.
    29     IN ADDITION TO THE PENALTIES HEREINAFTER PROVIDED, THE
    30  DIRECTOR MAY, FOR ANY VIOLATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
    19830S0279B1350                  - 7 -

     1  SECTION OR RULES AND REGULATIONS ADOPTED THEREUNDER, REVOKE OR
     2  SUSPEND ANY PERMIT AND ORDER THE DISPOSAL OF ANY WILDLIFE HELD.
     3     SECTION 419.  PENALTIES.--ANY PERSON VIOLATING ANY OF THE      <--
     4  PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE OR RULES AND REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY
     5  THE COMMISSION SHALL, UPON CONVICTION, BE SENTENCED TO PAY THE
     6  FOLLOWING FINES AND COSTS OF PROSECUTION FOR EACH OFFENSE:
     7     * * *
     8     (M)  FOR VIOLATING ANY PROVISION OF SECTION 417 OR FOR
     9  VIOLATING ANY RULE OR REGULATION ADOPTED THEREUNDER BY THE
    10  COMMISSION, [THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS] FIFTY DOLLARS;
    11     * * *
    12     (O.1)  FOR VIOLATING ANY PROVISION OF SECTION 417.2 OR ANY
    13  RULE OR REGULATION ADOPTED THEREUNDER BY THE COMMISSION, [FIVE
    14  HUNDRED DOLLARS] FIFTY DOLLARS;
    15     (O.2)  FOR VIOLATING ANY PROVISION OF SECTION 418 OR ANY RULE
    16  OR REGULATION ADOPTED THEREUNDER BY THE COMMISSION, [THREE
    17  HUNDRED DOLLARS] FIFTY DOLLARS;
    18     * * *
    19     SECTION 4.  ALL FEES PAID DURING THE 1981-1982 AND, 1982-1983  <--
    20  AND 1983-1984 LICENSE YEARS FOR PERMITS FOR MENAGERIES, PERMITS   <--
    21  TO DEAL IN WILDLIFE AND PERMITS TO POSSESS WILDLIFE, WHICH
    22  EXCEED THE FEES ESTABLISHED BY THIS AMENDATORY ACT, SHALL BE
    23  REFUNDED OR CREDITED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION TO ALL
    24  THOSE PERMIT HOLDERS WHO PAID SUCH FEES.
    25     SECTION 5.  THE PROVISIONS OF THIS AMENDATORY ACT AFFECTING
    26  SECTION 402 OF THE ACT SHALL BE RETROACTIVE TO THE 1981-1982
    27  LICENSE YEAR.
    28     Section 2 6.  This act shall take effect immediately.          <--


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