An Act amending the act of June 23, 1982 (P.L.597, No.170), known as the Wild Resource Conservation Act, further providing for legislative finding and declaration of policy and for definitions; and providing for wild native terrestrial invertebrate management.

PRINTER'S NO. 410
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 441
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY PIELLI, SANCHEZ, GIRAL, WEBSTER, HILL-EVANS,
HOHENSTEIN, McANDREW, FREEMAN, BOROWSKI, OTTEN, VITALI,
HOWARD, ISAACSON, BRENNAN, FRANKEL, GREEN, KHAN, MADDEN,
D. WILLIAMS, GUENST, PROBST, KENYATTA, STEELE, KRAJEWSKI,
RABB, CONKLIN AND DAVIDSON, JANUARY 31, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE
PROTECTION, JANUARY 31, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 23, 1982 (P.L.597, No.170), entitled
"An act providing for a voluntary contribution system to aid
in the conservation of certain wild flora and fauna,
establishing a special fund and providing for its
administration, establishing a procedure for the protection
of wild flora, establishing a permit system, imposing powers
and duties on the Department of Environmental Resources and
imposing penalties," further providing for legislative
finding and declaration of policy and for definitions; and
providing for wild native terrestrial invertebrate
management.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 2(6) and (7) of the act of June 23, 1982
(P.L.597, No.170), known as the Wild Resource Conservation Act,
are amended to read:
Section 2. Legislative finding; declaration of policy.
It is hereby determined and declared as a matter of
legislative finding that there are numerous flora and fauna,
including those rare or endangered, which are not commonly
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pursued, killed or consumed either for sport or profit, that
such species are in need of more active management and that it
is in the public interest to preserve and enhance such species
for the benefit of all. Therefore, it is the purpose of this act
to:
* * *
(6) Conserve and protect wild plant species and wild
native terrestrial invertebrates recognized as endangered,
threatened or vulnerable.
(7) Conduct an investigation to determine the status of
wild plants and wild native terrestrial invertebrates,
classify wild plants and wild native terrestrial
invertebrates indigenous to or found in the Commonwealth and
provide for their protection.
* * *
Section 2. The definition of "wild resource" in section 3 of
the act is amended and the section is amended by adding a
definition to read:
Section 3. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the
meanings given to them in this section:
* * *
"Wild native terrestrial invertebrate." A naturally
occurring native nonaquatic, land-dwelling animal lacking a
backbone.
* * *
"Wild resource." All fauna, including native terrestrial
invertebrates, not commonly pursued, killed or consumed either
for sport or profit, but not including any domestic fauna or any
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domestic fauna that has reverted to a feral existence, and all
flora not commonly considered an agricultural commodity.
Section 3. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 7.1. Wild native terrestrial invertebrate management.
(a) In addition to the powers and duties granted to it by
the act of June 28, 1995 (P.L.89, No.18), known as the
"Conservation and Natural Resources Act," the Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources shall, with cooperation from
taxonomists, biologists , academia, nonprofit organizations and
other interested persons, have the following duties:
(1) Conduct investigations on wild native terrestrial
invertebrates in order to ascertain information relating to
population, distribution, habitat needs, limiting factors and
other biological and ecological data to classify terrestrial
invertebrates and to determine management measures necessary
for their continued ability to sustain themselves
successfully.
(2) Coordinate with Federal and State agencies for
successful wild native terrestrial invertebrate conservation.
(3) Develop practices and guidance for reducing and
mitigating risks to invertebrate biodiversity.
(b) The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
shall establish a classification procedure that should include,
but may not be limited to, the following categories:
(1) Endangered. Species in danger of extinction
throughout all or most of its range if critical habitat is
not maintained or is greatly exploited by man.
(2) Threatened. Species likely to become endangered
throughout all or most of its range if critical habitat is
not maintained or is greatly exploited by man.
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(c) On the basis of such determinations, the Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources shall issue regulations not
later than two years from the effective date of this subsection,
after public notice, after receiving data from interested
persons and after holding public hearings. The regulations shall
set limitations related to the taking, possessing, transporting,
exporting, processing, selling or offering for sale or shipment
as may be deemed necessary to manage wild native terrestrial
invertebrates.
(d) Upon the issuance of the final regulations under
subsection (c), the Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources may create a list of endangered and threatened
species. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
may add or delete species from the list under this subsection as
conditions change and may amend the final regulations under
subsection (c) to reflect the changing environment in accordance
with the laws of this Commonwealth.
Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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