An Act amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Pennsylvania Game Commission, further providing for organization of commission; in game or wildlife protection, further providing for report to commission officer, for surrender of carcass to commission officer, for unlawful activities and for killing game or wildlife to protect person; and, in hunting and furtaking, further providing for investigation and seizure of game or wildlife.

HOUSE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 481 PRINTER'S NO. 1014
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 518
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY ROTHMAN, LAUGHLIN, HUTCHINSON, KEEFER AND DUSH,
MARCH 25, 2025
AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
JUNE 25, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, IN PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION, FURTHER PROVIDING
FOR ORGANIZATION OF COMMISSION; in game or wildlife
protection, further providing for REPORT TO COMMISSION
OFFICER, FOR SURRENDER OF CARCASS TO COMMISSION OFFICER, FOR
unlawful activities and for killing game or wildlife to
protect person; and, in hunting and furtaking, further
providing for investigation and seizure of game or wildlife.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Sections 2126(a)(6), 2141(b) and 2313(a) of Title
34 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to
read:
SECTION 1. SECTION 301(A) OF TITLE 34 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA
CONSOLIDATED STATUTES IS AMENDED AND THE SECTION IS AMENDED BY
ADDING A SUBSECTION TO READ:
§ 301. ORGANIZATION OF COMMISSION.
(A) COMPOSITION.--THE INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATIVE COMMISSION
KNOWN AS THE PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION SHALL CONSIST OF NINE
COMPETENT CITIZENS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH WHO SHALL BE WELL
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INFORMED ON THE SUBJECT OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION
AND WHO SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, BY AND WITH THE
ADVICE AND CONSENT OF A MAJORITY OF THE ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE
SENATE. THE GOVERNOR SHALL ENSURE THAT AT LEAST ONE MEMBER
APPOINTED TO THE COMMISSION REPRESENTS THE INTEREST OF
AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES THAT PERTAIN TO NORMAL AGRICULTURAL
OPERATIONS AND WILDLIFE.
* * *
(E) DEFINITIONS.--AS USED IN THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING
WORDS AND PHRASES SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS
SUBSECTION UNLESS THE CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES OTHERWISE:
"AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY." AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2 OF THE ACT
OF JUNE 10, 1982 (P.L.454, NO.133), REFERRED TO AS THE RIGHT-TO-
FARM LAW.
"NORMAL AGRICULTURAL OPERATION." AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2 OF
THE RIGHT-TO-FARM LAW.
SECTION 2. SECTIONS 2122, 2125, 2126(A)(6), 2141(B) AND
2313(A) OF TITLE 34 ARE AMENDED TO READ:
§ 2122. REPORT TO COMMISSION OFFICER.
ANY PERSON WHO KILLS ANY GAME OR WILDLIFE, OTHER THAN
RACCOONS, UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBCHAPTER SHALL, WITHIN
24 HOURS, REPORT, ORALLY OR IN WRITING, THE KILLING TO AN
OFFICER OF THE COMMISSION. THE REPORT SHALL SET FORTH THE DATE,
TIME AND PLACE OF THE KILLING, THE NUMBER OF SPECIES KILLED [AND
THE SEX OF THE SPECIES.], THE SEX OF THE SPECIES AND THE
LOCATION OF EACH CARCASS. THE COMMISSION SHALL ESTABLISH A SELF-
REPORTING SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS A PERSON ASSIGNED TO REMOVE DEER
FOR CROP DAMAGE PURPOSES TO REPORT EACH HARVEST TO AN OFFICER OF
THE COMMISSION VIA A TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER, ONLINE
APPLICATION OR PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE INTERNET WEBSITE.
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§ 2125. SURRENDER OF CARCASS [TO COMMISSION OFFICER].
EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS SUBCHAPTER, THE ENTIRE
CARCASS, INCLUDING THE HEAD AND HIDE, OF ALL BIG GAME ANIMALS
AND THE ENTIRE CARCASS OF ANY OTHER GAME OR WILDLIFE, OTHER THAN
RACCOONS, LESS ENTRAILS, SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE, UNLESS
OTHERWISE DIRECTED BY AN OFFICER OF THE COMMISSION, INTACT,
[LESS ENTRAILS,] TO ANY COMMISSION OFFICER CALLING FOR THEM[.]
OR DELIVERED TO A PROCESSOR FOR FINAL DISPOSITION. AS USED IN
THIS SECTION, THE TERM "PROCESSOR" MEANS A LOCATION SPECIFIED BY
THE COMMISSION THAT IS WILLING TO ACCEPT DONATIONS OF ANIMALS
TAKEN UNDER THIS CHAPTER.
§ 2126. Unlawful activities.
(a) General rule.--It is unlawful for any person while
acting under the provisions of this subchapter to:
* * *
[(6) Refuse to answer, without evasion, upon request of
any representative of the commission, any pertinent question
pertaining to the killing or wounding of any game or wildlife
killed or wounded, or the disposition of the entire carcass
or any part thereof.]
* * *
§ 2141. Killing game or wildlife to protect person.
* * *
(b) Report, safekeeping and investigation.--A person killing
any game or wildlife under this subchapter shall report the
event to an officer as soon as possible following the incident
but in no case later than 24 hours, provide for safekeeping of
the game or wildlife intact at the place where it was killed and
be available for interview by the officer. [The person killing
the game or wildlife shall answer, without evasion, any
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pertinent questions of the officer making the investigation.]
* * *
§ 2313. Investigation and seizure of game or wildlife.
[(a) Response to questions.--The operator of any vehicle or
craft transporting any game or wildlife shall answer, without
evasion, any pertinent question posed by a commission officer.]
* * *
Section 2 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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