Pennsylvania HB 746: An Act amending Titles 30 (Fish) and 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, further providing for organization of commission; and, in Pennsylvania Game Commission, further providing for organization of commission.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 772
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 746
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY MALONEY, HAMM, ROWE AND ZIMMERMAN, MARCH 3, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAME AND FISHERIES, MARCH 3, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Titles 30 (Fish) and 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in Pennsylvania Fish and Boat
Commission, further providing for organization of commission;
and, in Pennsylvania Game Commission, further providing for
organization of commission.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 301(a) and (d) of Title 30 of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended and the section
is amended by adding a subsection to read:
§ 301. Organization of commission.
(a) Composition.--
(1) The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is
continued as an independent administrative commission and
shall consist of ten competent citizens of this Commonwealth
who shall be appointed by the Governor [by and with the
advice and consent of a majority of the members elected to
the Senate.] for each district as provided under paragraph
(2) .
(2) Members of the commission shall meet the
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qualifications under subsection (b) and shall be selected for
appointment under paragraph (1) as follows:
(i) The two at-large members shall be appointed by
the Governor.
(ii) Except as provided under subparagraph (i), the
members shall be selected for appointment as follows:
(A) For each member position that is or will be
open in a district, each sportsmen's group may
nominate one individual for commission membership
within 30 days of the provision of notification under
paragraph (3)(i).
(B) For each member position that is or will be
open in a district, each sportsman may, within 30
days of the provision of notification under paragraph
(3)(iii), cast a vote for one individual for the
district from the individuals under clause (A). Each
sportsman may vote for one candidate only for each
member position that is or will be open in the
district.
(C) The following shall apply:
(I) The names of the candidates receiving
the three highest vote totals under clause (B)
from each district shall be submitted by the
department, within 10 days of the conclusion of
voting under clause (B), to the Governor for a
member seat that is or will be open.
(II) Except a s provided under subclause
(III), the Governor shall, within 30 days of the
receipt of candidate names under subclause (I),
appoint one member from the individuals receiving
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the three highest vote totals for each district
that has a member seat that is or will be open.
(III) The Governor may, for cause, refuse to
appoint a member from the individuals receiving
the three highest vote totals under clause (B).
If the Governor refuses to appoint a member as
provided under this subclause, the Governor
shall, within 30 days of receipt of candidate
names under subclause (I) , notify the department
that he or she refuses to appoint a member and
the reason for the refusal. The department shall,
within 1 0 days of the receipt of the Governor's
notice, submit to the Governor the names of the
individuals receiving the fourth, fifth and sixth
highest vote totals under clause (B) . The
Governor shall, within 14 days of the receipt of
the names under this subclause, appoint one
member from the individuals receiving the fourth,
fifth and sixth highest vote totals.
(IV) Upon appointment by the Governor the
candidate shall be confirmed, and the results of
the selection process under clauses (A) and (B)
ratified, within five legislative days by a
majority vote of the respective members of the
committees. A majority vote in opposition to the
appointment by either chamber shall result in the
Governor choosing from the remaining individuals
with the highest vote totals under clauses (B)
and (C) within 14 days of receipt of their names.
A majority vote in opposition to the selection
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process by either chamber shall reinitiate the
provision of notification under paragraph (3)(i).
Failure to hold a vote to confirm the appointment
or ratify the selection process by either of the
committees within five legislative days shall be
deemed to be confirmation of the commissioner's
appointment and ratification of the selection
process.
(V) Following two consecutive votes in
opposition by either of the committees for a
commissioner appointment of a district, the
Governor shall appoint a nominee within the top
six vote recipients under clauses (B) and (C),
within 14 days or receipt of the vote in
opposition, who has not been denied confirmation
by the legislature. The third and final nominee
shall be confirmed without legislative approval.
(D) If an individual is not nominated under this
subp