ISSUES WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING

It is only through the combined efforts of Pennsylvania sportsmen, wildlife enthusiasts, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, legislators, and other stakeholders that we may identify the permanent solution to Chronic Wasting Disease here in Pennsylvania. 

  ***THE PA GAME COMMISSION HAS NO REGULATORY AUTHORITY/CONTROL OVER CAPTIVE/FARMED ANIMAL***    https://pafedsportsmenconservationists.blogspot.com/2020/01/chronic-wasting-disease.html 

House Bill 207 would provide for the sale of antlerless deer hunting licenses through the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Pennsylvania Automated Licensing System (PALS). This means hunters could potentially buy their antlerless licenses online or in person at the same outlet where they bought their original license. 

House Bill 119 Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Trappers Association have previously supported this measure and legislation to increase the penalty for illegally setting these traps from a summary offense of the fifth degree to a summary offense of the first degree. This change would increase maximum fines from $200 to $1,500. 

(Waiting For Updated 2021 Session Legislation) 

The PA Game Commission needs the same authority as the PA Fish & Boat Commission (HB808) to set fees.  The last hunting license fee increase was in 1999.  The PGC does not receive state funding. Revenue comes from hunting licenses sales, Pittman & Robertson Funding, and other conservation sources.  License fees for the PGC are set by the state legislature.  The last hunting license fee increase was in 1999.

Representative Keith Gillispie
“Both of those agencies, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania Fish, and Boat Commission, are professional agencies,” said state Rep. Keith Gillespie (R-York), the committee chair. “They’re not going to price themselves out of the market, and they know where they need to direct those resources to and how to manage it.”

Last session, the individual bills both passed overwhelmingly in the Senate but lacked the votes in our committee. I’m planning to take another swing at this because of my strong feeling that the commissions both need and deserve the ability to set their own fees for the benefit of outdoor enthusiasts for whom they provide much-needed services.  

2021-2022 Co-Sponsorship Memo - Senator Joe Pittman

This proposed legislation would allow organizations with Small Games Of Chance club licenses to offer games of chance virtually via the internet or mobile application, as well as receive payment electronically through credit and debit cards or other electronic mobile payment applications.  

 (Waiting For Updated 2021 Session Legislation)  

Continue to bring Pennsylvania wildlife management into the 21st Century standards and eliminate the restrictions based on a 338-year-old law from 1682.
Based on the science-led, resource first wildlife established in the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.  We must strive for optimization of opportunity if we want to optimize participation. 

Senator James Brewster - Senate Bill 147

“I am pleased and humbled to receive the 2020 Legislator of the Year award from the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen and Conservationists.  Together, along with the leadership and members of the federation, we have worked hard on key issues and have had success in addressing the needs of sportsmen and women."

“Under the leadership of Harold Daub, the federation has been an active and effective advocate for change.  I want to thank Harold and all the members of the federation for the award and recognition and I look forward to continuing to be a strong voice in the Senate for sportsmen and women for years to come.”