Pennsylvania SB 533: An Act amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in hunting and furtaking licenses, further providing for license requirements; and, in special licenses and permits, further providing for regulated hunting grounds permits.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 519
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 533
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY ROBINSON, LANGERHOLC, BOSCOLA, BARTOLOTTA,
ROTHMAN, BROOKS, PENNYCUICK, FONTANA, HUTCHINSON,
TARTAGLIONE, COSTA, BROWN, J. WARD, BAKER, STEFANO,
MASTRIANO, DUSH, FARRY AND GEBHARD, APRIL 2, 2025
REFERRED TO GAME AND FISHERIES, APRIL 2, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in hunting and furtaking licenses, further
providing for license requirements; and, in special licenses
and permits, further providing for regulated hunting grounds
permits.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Sections 2701 and 2928 of Title 34 of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended by adding
subsections to read:
§ 2701. License requirements.
* * *
(d) Exemption for members of armed services and disabled
veterans.--
(1) The commission shall issue a Military Event License
Exemption exempting eligible individuals under paragraph (2)
from the license and permit fee requirements under section
2709 (relating to license costs and fees) while participating
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in an eligible activity for which the commission has issued a
Military Event License Exemption Permit under paragraph (3).
(2) The following individuals are eligible for a
Military Event License Exemption under paragraph (1):
(i) A veteran of the armed forces of the United
States who has been certified by the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor or by
any branch of the United States Armed Forces to have
served during war time and has a service-connected
disability of 30% or more.
(ii) An active duty member, reserve duty member or
veteran of any branch of the United States Armed Forces
who has received the Purple Heart.
(iii) One additional individual per eligible
individual under subparagraph (i) or (ii), who shall
provide assistance to the eligible individual as
necessary during the specified permitted event.
(3) The commission may issue a Military Event License
Exemption Permit for an event, subject to paragraph (5),
whose primary purpose is the rehabilitation or enjoyment of
eligible individuals. Each eligible individual must receive a
Military Event License Exemption to participate in the event.
The event may have a duration of no more than seven
consecutive days.
(4) All regulations and requirements regarding seasons,
bag limits and reporting standards must be adhered to by the
participants of an event under paragraph (3).
(5) An individual or entity that wishes to host an event
for which the commission may issue a Military Event License
Exemption Permit under paragraph (3) shall apply for the
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Military Event License Exemption Permit in a manner provided
by the commission no less than 14 days prior to the event.
The following apply:
(i) The permit applicant shall provide the
commission with the documentation required for each
eligible individual participating in the event.
(ii) The permit application shall include the
ability to apply for a Military Event License Exemption
for each eligible individual participating in the event
for which the applicant is applying for a Military Event
License Exemption Permit.
(iii) The fee to apply for a Military Event License
Exemption Permit shall be the product of the license cost
under section 2709(a)(2)(ii) and the number of eligible
individuals participating in the event.
(6) Military Event License Exemption Permits may only be
used for an event hosted on private land within this
Commonwealth with the express approval of the landowner.
(7) The commission may issue a Military Event License
Exemption Permit for an event with no more than 10 eligible
individuals participating.
(8) The commission may not issue a Military Event
License Exemption Permit for an event that would unduly
impact commission resources or impose significant costs to
the commission.
(9) The commission shall impose upon each Military Event
License Exemption Permit reasonable conditions that are
necessary to ensure that the use or activity authorized under
the permit will limit liability to the commission.
(10) Violations of the terms of the Military Event
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License Exemption Permit or violation of any other game law
under this title shall result in the revocation of the permit
and possible denial of future Military Event License
Exemption Permit applications.
(11) The commission shall promulgate guidelines for the
implementation and issuance of Military Event License
Exemptions and Military Event License Exemption Permits under
this subchapter.
(12) The following words and phrases when used in this
subsection shall have the meanings given to them in this
paragraph unless context clearly in