The Senate Game & Fisheries Committee approved two bills at its meeting today (March 16), according to Committee Chairman Senator Dan Laughlin (R-49).
Senate Bill 241, introduced by Senator James Brewster (D-45), exempts the cost of fishing licenses for veterans and other individuals taking steps towards physical or mental recovery as part of therapeutic recreation events or programs by various established service groups, such as Project Healing Waters and Wounded Warriors. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission states that in 2018, more than 60 different service organizations and hundreds of unique one-day fishing opportunity events across the Commonwealth would have qualified for the exemption under the bill.
Senate Bill 403, introduced by Senator Devlin Robinson (R-37) aligns the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s boat registration period with the calendar year. Currently, the registration spans two years, from April 1 until March 31 of the second year. This creates confusion, especially among inexperienced boaters who mistakenly believe their registration is valid through the end of the calendar year listed on their registration decal.
The measures now go to the full Senate for consideration.
Video of the hearing
Contact: Matt Azeles mazeles@pasen.gov