PRINTER'S NO. 294
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
315
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY HUTCHINSON, BARTOLOTTA, MENSCH, J. WARD, K. WARD
AND YUDICHAK, FEBRUARY 22, 2019
REFERRED TO GAME AND FISHERIES, FEBRUARY 22, 2019
AN ACT
Amending Titles 30 (Fish) and 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in fishing licenses, further providing
for disabled veterans and former prisoners of war and for
exemptions from license requirements; and, in hunting and
furtaking licenses, further providing for eligibility for
license, for resident license and fee exemptions and for
license costs and fees; and making editorial changes.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 2707(b) of Title 30 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a paragraph to read:
ยง 2707. Disabled veterans and former prisoners of war.
* * *
(b) Lifetime licenses.--
* * *
(3) A disabled veteran who holds a resident fishing
license and meets the qualifications of subsection (a)(2)
may, at the option of the applicant, upon reaching the
veteran's 65th birthday in the license year of the
application for the license, be issued a senior resident
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disabled veteran lifetime fishing license at the cost of $5
upon application to the commission or a county treasurer.
* * *
Section 2. Section 2709 of Title 30 is amended by adding a
subsection to read:
ยง 2709. Exemptions from license requirements.
* * *
(g) Nonresident military personnel fishing licenses.--
(1) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to
nonresident military personnel who satisfy all of the
following:
(i) Are out-of-State residents.
(ii) Are on active and full-time duty in the United
States Armed Forces.
(iii) Are assigned to a facility within this
Commonwealth.
(iv) Have on their person while fishing proof of
their assignment to a facility within this Commonwealth.
(2) Such persons shall comply with the regulations of
the commission.
Section 3. Sections 2701(c)(1), 2704(b) and 2705(15) of
Title 34 are amended to read:
ยง 2701. License requirements.
* * *
(c) Exception.--Any person who has never held a hunting
license in Pennsylvania or any other state may participate in
the hunting and trapping activities authorized under this title
or commission regulations without compliance with subsection (a)
or section 2704 (relating to eligibility for license) if that
person satisfies all of the following requirements:
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(1) The person who participates in the hunting or
trapping activities must always be in sight of and close
enough to a licensed hunter who is at least 18 years of age
to clearly hear and understand instructions communicated to
the person through normal conversation without the aid of any
device. The licensed hunter shall have a valid hunting
license for the game or wildlife they are hunting or qualify
for license and fee exemptions under section 2706 (relating
to [resident] license and fee exemptions).
* * *
ยง 2704. Eligibility for license.
* * *
(b) Hunter education.--Persons who have not held a hunting
license lawfully issued to them in this Commonwealth or another
state or nation or have not hunted under the exceptions in
section 2706 (relating to [resident] license and fee exemptions)
or do not possess a certificate of training approved by the
director prior to the enactment of this title shall be required
to attain accreditation in a hunter education program approved
by the director before a hunting license is issued to them. The
provisions of this subsection shall not apply to a person who
presents:
(1) Evidence of service in the armed forces of the
United States or in the United States Coast Guard and
discharge or separation under honorable conditions within
[six months] five years of the date of application.
(2) Evidence that the person is currently serving in the
armed forces of the United States or in the United States
Coast Guard.
* * *
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ยง 2705. Classes of licenses.
Unless otherwise provided, any person wishing to exercise any
of the privileges granted by this title shall first secure the
applicable resident or nonresident hunting or furtaker license
as follows:
* * *
(15) Elk hunting license to persons eligible for classes
of licenses in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (7), (7.1), (8), (9)
and (11.1). Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
title or the regulations promulgated thereunder, elk licenses
under this paragraph shall not be subject to the provisions
of sections 2706 (relating to [resident] license and fee
exemptions) and 2706.1 (relating to complimentary nonresident
licenses). To ensure sound management of Pennsylvania's wild
elk population, the commission may promulgate regulations to
establish a limited number of licenses. The commission may
establish a nonrefundable application fee at a cost of $10.
* * *
Section 4. Section 2706 heading, (b)(1) and (1.1) and (e) of
Title 34 are amended and the section is amended by adding a
subsection to read:
ยง 2706. [Resident license] License and fee exemptions.
* * *
(b) Disabled veterans.--
(1) Any resident or nonresident disabled veteran who has
a disability incurred in any war or armed conflict which
consists of the loss of one or more limbs, or the loss of the
use of one or more limbs, or who is 100% disabled as
certified by the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs, and who meets all other qualifications of this title
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and is otherwise mentally and physically fit, shall be issued
a free regular hunting or furtaking license upon application
to the commission or a county treasurer.
(1.1) Any resident or nonresident disabled veteran who
has a disability incurred in any war or armed conflict and
possesses a disability rating between 60% and 99% as
certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
and who meets all other qualifications of this act and is
otherwise mentally and physically fit shall be issued a
[resident] hunting or furtaking license at the cost of $1
upon application to the commission or a county treasurer. A
resident or nonresident disabled veteran who holds a hunting
or furtaking license under this paragraph may, at the option
of the applicant, upon reaching the veteran's 65th birthday
in the license year of the application for the license, be
issued:
(i) a senior lifetime disabled veteran hunting
license;
(ii) a senior lifetime disabled veteran furtaking
license; or
(iii) a senior lifetime disabled veteran combination
hunting and furtaking license.
* * *
(e) Military personnel hunting licenses.--[Resident
military] Military personnel hunting licenses shall be issued by
the commission, county treasurer or issuing agent to persons who
satisfy all of the following requirements:
(1) Are residents of this Commonwealth.
(2) Are on active and full-time duty in the United
States Armed Forces.
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(3) Are assigned to a facility outside this
Commonwealth.
(4) Are on temporary leave in this Commonwealth.
Such persons shall comply with the regulations of the
commission.
(e.1) Nonresident military personnel.--Military personnel
hunting licenses shall be issued by the commission, county
treasurer or issuing agent to persons who satisfy all of the
following requirements:
(1) Are out-of-State residents.
(2) Are on active and full-time duty in the United
States Armed Forces.
(3) Are assigned to a facility within this Commonwealth.
Such persons shall comply with the regulations of the
commission.
* * *
Section 5. Section 2709(a) of Title 34 is amended to read:
ยง 2709. License costs and fees.
(a) License costs.--Any person who qualifies under the
provisions of this chapter shall be issued the applicable
license upon payment of the following costs and the issuing
agent's fee:
(1) (i) Junior resident hunting - $5.
(ii) Junior resident combination hunting and
furtaker - $8.
(2) (i) Adult resident hunting - $19.
(ii) [Resident military] Military personnel hunting
- $1.
(iii) Former prisoner of war hunting - $1.
(iv) Pennsylvania National Guard hunting - $1.
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(v) Reserve component of the armed forces hunting -
$1.
(3) (i) Senior resident hunting - $12.
(ii) Senior lifetime resident hunting - $50.
(iii) Senior lifetime resident combination hunting
and furtaker - $100.
(iv) Senior lifetime disabled veteran hunting - $15.
(v) Senior lifetime disabled veteran combination
hunting and furtaker - $50.
(4) Bear hunting:
(i) Resident - $15.
(ii) Nonresident - $35.
(5) Antlerless deer:
(i) Resident, including [resident military, resident
disabled veteran and] landowner - $5.
(ii) Nonresident - $25.
(iii) Disabled veteran - $5.
(iv) Military personnel - $5.
(6) Archery deer:
(i) Resident - $15.
(ii) Nonresident - $25.
(7) Muzzleloader deer:
(i) Resident - $10.
(ii) Nonresident - $20.
(8) (Reserved).
(9) Adult nonresident hunting - $100.
(10) (i) Junior nonresident hunting - $40.
(ii) Junior nonresident combination hunting and
furtaker - $50.
(11) Seven-day nonresident small game - $30.
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(12) Junior resident furtakers - $5.
(13) Adult resident furtakers - $19.
(14) (i) Senior resident furtakers - $12.
(ii) Senior lifetime resident furtaker - $50.
(iii) Senior lifetime disabled veteran furtaker -
$15.
(15) Adult nonresident furtaker - $80.
(16) Junior nonresident furtaker - $40.
(17) [Resident disabled] Disabled veteran hunting or
furtaker under section [2706(b) (relating to disabled
veterans)] 2706(b)(1) (relating to license and fee
exemptions) - no cost.
(17.1) Disabled veteran hunting or furtaker under
section 2706(b)(1.1) - $1.
(18) Replacement license - $5. Antlerless deer and bear
licenses shall be replaced by the original issuing agent
only.
(19) Owners or possessors of land open to public hunting
under section 2706(d) [(relating to owners or possessors of
land open to public hunting)] - $3.
(20) Migratory game bird hunting license:
(i) Resident - $2.
(ii) Nonresident - $5.
(21) Elk hunting license:
(i) Resident - $25.
(ii) Nonresident - $250.
(22) Special wild turkey license:
(i) Resident - $20.
(ii) Nonresident - $40.
* * *
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Section 6. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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