PRINTER'S NO. 853
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
877
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY PIELLI, KRUPA, MADDEN, ROZZI, TAKAC, SANCHEZ,
KHAN, CIRESI, LEADBETER, KAZEEM, WEBSTER, T. DAVIS, BOROWSKI,
BIZZARRO, SHUSTERMAN, WATRO, DELLOSO, BRENNAN, DALEY AND
GERGELY, APRIL 10, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAME AND FISHERIES, APRIL 10, 2023
AN ACT
Amending Titles 30 (Fish) and 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in fishing licenses, providing for
active duty military fishing reciprocity and for disabled
veteran annual fishing license reciprocity; and, in hunting
and furtaking licenses, providing for active duty military
hunting reciprocity and for disabled veteran annual hunting
license reciprocity.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 30 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding sections to read:
§ 2702.2. Active duty military fishing reciprocity.
(a) Permission.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this
title, any person who possesses a valid and lawfully issued
active duty military fishing license or permit which has been
issued under the laws of another state, regardless of whether a
reciprocity agreement exists between the Commonwealth and the
state under subsection (b), may fish in any of the waters of
this Commonwealth or in any boundary waters if all of the
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following apply:
(1) The state provides a reciprocal privilege for a
nonresident individual who is on active military duty in the
armed forces of the United States.
(2) The Attorney General has determined that the fishing
laws of the state are similar to the fishing laws of this
Commonwealth.
(b) Reciprocity.--
(1) The Attorney General shall have the power and duty
to enter into reciprocity agreements with other states
providing for the mutual recognition of active duty military
fishing within this Commonwealth and the similar allowance of
fishing allowed by the other state. To carry out this duty,
the Attorney General is authorized to negotiate reciprocity
agreements and grant recognition of an active duty military
fishing allowance or license issued by another state.
(2) The Attorney General shall report to the General
Assembly within 180 days of the effective date of this
section and annually thereafter concerning the agreements
which have been consummated under this subsection.
§ 2702.3. Disabled veteran annual fishing license reciprocity.
(a) Permission.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this
title, any person who possesses a valid and lawfully issued
disabled veteran annual fishing license or permit which has been
issued under the laws of another state, regardless of whether a
reciprocity agreement exists between the Commonwealth and the
state under subsection (b), may fish in any of the waters of
this Commonwealth or in any boundary waters if all of the
following apply:
(1) The state provides a reciprocal privilege for
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individuals possessing a disabled veteran annual fishing
license issued under section 2707(a) (relating to disabled
veterans and former prisoners of war).
(2) The Attorney General has determined that the fishing
laws of the state are similar to the fishing laws of this
Commonwealth.
(b) Reciprocity.--
(1) The Attorney General shall have the power and duty
to enter into reciprocity agreements with other states
providing for the mutual recognition of disabled veteran
annual fishing licenses issued by the Commonwealth and a
similar license or permit issued by the other state. To carry
out this duty, the Attorney General is authorized to
negotiate reciprocity agreements and grant recognition of a
disabled veteran annual fishing license or permit issued by
another state.
(2) The Attorney General shall report to the General
Assembly within 180 days of the effective date of this
section and annually thereafter concerning the agreements
which have been consummated under this subsection.
Section 2. Title 34 is amended by adding sections to read:
§ 2703.1. Active duty military hunting reciprocity.
(a) Permission.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this
title, any person who possesses a valid and lawfully issued
active duty military hunting license or permit which has been
issued under the laws of another state, regardless of whether a
reciprocity agreement exists between the Commonwealth and the
state under subsection (b), may hunt within this Commonwealth if
all of the following apply:
(1) The state provides a reciprocal privilege for a
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nonresident individual who is on active military duty in the
armed forces of the United States.
(2) The Attorney General has determined that the hunting
laws of the state are similar to the hunting laws of this
Commonwealth.
(b) Reciprocity.--
(1) The Attorney General shall have the power and duty
to enter into reciprocity agreements with other states
providing for the mutual recognition of active duty military
hunting within this Commonwealth and the similar allowance of
hunting allowed by the other state. To carry out this duty,
the Attorney General is authorized to negotiate reciprocity
agreements and grant recognition of an active duty military
hunting allowance or license issued by another state.
(2) The Attorney General shall report to the General
Assembly within 180 days of the effective date of this
section and annually thereafter concerning the agreements
which have been consummated under this subsection.
§ 2703.2. Disabled veteran annual hunting license reciprocity.
(a) Permission.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this
title, any person who possesses a valid and lawfully issued
disabled veteran annual hunting license or permit which has been
issued under the laws of another state, regardless of whether a
reciprocity agreement exists between the Commonwealth and the
state under subsection (b), may hunt in this Commonwealth if all
of the following apply:
(1) The state provides a reciprocal privilege for
individuals possessing a disabled veteran annual hunting
license issued under section 2706(b) (relating to resident
license and fee exemptions).
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(2) The Attorney General has determined that the hunting
laws of the state are similar to the hunting laws of this
Commonwealth.
(b) Reciprocity.--
(1) The Attorney General shall have the power and duty
to enter into reciprocity agreements with other states
providing for the mutual recognition of disabled veteran
annual hunting licenses issued by the Commonwealth and a
similar license or permit issued by the other state. To carry
out this duty, the Attorney General is authorized to
negotiate reciprocity agreements and grant recognition of a
disabled veteran annual hunting license or permit issued by
another state.
(2) The Attorney General shall report to the General
Assembly within 180 days of the effective date of this
section and annually thereafter concerning the agreements
which have been consummated under this subsection.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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