Pennsylvania HB 508: An Act establishing the Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Program and the Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Fund; and imposing duties on the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 490
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 508
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY PROBST, HILL-EVANS, SANCHEZ, GIRAL, KHAN, BRENNAN,
HOWARD, DALEY, OTTEN AND GREEN, FEBRUARY 5, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAME AND FISHERIES, FEBRUARY 5, 2025
AN ACT
Establishing the Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Program and the
Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Fund; and imposing duties on
the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Wildlife
Rehabilitation Grant Program Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Commission." The Pennsylvania Game Commission.
"Facilities." Equipment or housing used in, or necessary
for, wildlife rehabilitation.
"Fund." The Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Fund established
under section 5(a).
"Program." The Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Program
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established under section 3(a).
"Wildlife." As defined in 34 Pa.C.S. § 102 (relating to
definitions).
"Wildlife rehabilitation." As follows:
(1) The recovery, treatment, restoration or temporary
care of injured, sick, diseased, orphaned or displaced
wildlife.
(2) The term includes the subsequent release of healthy
wildlife to appropriate habitats in the wild.
"Wildlife rehabilitator." A nonprofit organization permitted
as a wildlife rehabilitator in accordance with 58 Pa. Code Ch.
147 Subch. P (relating to wildlife rehabilitation).
Section 3. Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant
Program is established and shall be administered by the
commission.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the program is to award grants
to wildlife rehabilitators in accordance with this act.
(c) Eligible uses of grants.--Grants awarded under the
program must be used for the following purposes:
(1) Wildlife rehabilitation.
(2) The improvement of facilities for wildlife
rehabilitation.
(3) A purpose related to any of the purposes described
under paragraph (1) or (2), as determined by the commission.
Section 4. Grant process.
(a) Application.--To be eligible for a grant under the
program, a wildlife rehabilitator must submit a written grant
application to the commission in a manner and on a form
prescribed by the commission. The application must include the
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following information:
(1) The name, address and contact information of the
wildlife rehabilitator.
(2) The purpose or purposes for which the grant is
sought.
(3) The amount of the grant requested.
(4) The wildlife intake of the wildlife rehabilitator
from the previous fiscal year.
(5) Any other information or documentation required by
the commission.
(b) Review and determination.--
(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), within 60 days
after receipt of a completed application under the program,
the commission shall review the application and determine
whether to approve or deny the application, in whole or in
part.
(2) If the commission fails to make a determination in
accordance with paragraph (1), the application shall be
deemed denied.
(3) To aid in the determination of whether to award a
grant under the program, the commission may require
additional information or verification following receipt of a
completed application. The time period specified under
paragraph (1) shall commence upon receipt of the additional
information or verification.
(c) Wildlife intake.--The commission shall determine the
amount of each grant under the program based on the wildlife
intake of the wildlife rehabilitator from the previous fiscal
year, which is set as follows:
(1) For wildlife intake numbers of 1 to 100, $2,500.
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(2) For wildlife intake numbers of 101 to 250, $5,000.
(3) For wildlife intake numbers of 251 to 500, $7,500.
(4) For wildlife intake numbers of 501 to 750, $10,000.
(5) For wildlife intake numbers of 751 to 1,000,
$15,000.
(6) For wildlife intake numbers of 1,001 to 1,500,
$20,000.
(7) For wildlife intake numbers of 1,501 to 2,000,
$35,000.
(8) For wildlife intake numbers of 2,001 to 2,500,
$50,000.
(9) For wildlife intake numbers of more than 2,500,
$75,000.
(d) Other limitations.--
(1) Grants under the program shall be disbursed on a
first-come, first-served basis determined by the commission
and until all money in the fund is exhausted.
(2) The commission may award only one grant during a
calendar year for each office location of a wildlife
rehabilitator.
(e) Notice.--After making a determination regarding the
approval or denial, in whole or in part, of an application under
the program, the commission shall provide written no