[Bluetick]

SB 644

An Act amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for the definition of "wild animals."

Prime Sponsor: Senator SCARNATI


http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/bill...pe=B&bn=644


Action(s)
PN 0618
Referred to GAME AND FISHERIES,March 8, 2013

Reported as committed from GAME AND FISHERIES, March 12, 2013

First consideration, March 12, 2013
Second consideration, March 13, 2013
Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS,March 13, 2013

 

[Bluetick]

SB644
An Act amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for the definition of "wild animals."
Action(s)
PN 0618
Referred to GAME AND FISHERIES,March 8, 2013

Reported as committed from GAME AND FISHERIES, March 12, 2013

First consideration, March 12, 2013
Second consideration, March 13, 2013
Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS,March 13, 2013

Re-reported as committed from APPROPRIATIONS, March 18, 2013

 

[Bluetick]

An Act amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for the definition of "wild animals."
Action(s)
PN 0618
Referred to GAME AND FISHERIES,March 8, 2013

Reported as committed from GAME AND FISHERIES, March 12, 2013

First consideration, March 12, 2013
Second consideration, March 13, 2013
Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS,March 13, 2013

Re-reported as committed from APPROPRIATIONS, March 18, 2013

Third consideration and final passage, March 19, 2013 <span style="font-weight: bold">(32-18)</span>


Onto the house.

 

[Bluetick]

Voted out of the House G&F yesterday.Then following amendment failed to pass with a 13 - 10 vote with 2 not voting:


Committee GAME AND FISHERIES Date April 9, 2013

Bill/Resolution SB644 PN0618 A00567 Type of Motion Adopt Amendment

Maker of Motion Rep. Kula Seconded by Rep. White


Brief Description Amends Title 3 (Agriculture) to clarify that the definition of "domestic animal" shall include all variations of pig, swine or boar held in captivity, and requires the sterilization of all male swine held in captivity for the purpose of recreational hunting.


http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legi...13&rNbr=253



So, if this bill passes, like it s house counterpart, wild hogs / feral hogs will have no regulatory control in the entire state.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Fenced hogs and boar will still be under Dept of Ag, those on the loose will be subject to hunting without restriction, at night, with starlight scopes, with semi auto rifles etc. Advantages and disadvantages as I see it.

An interesting experiment is being done in New Mexico with "Judas Hogs" a hog trained to lead others into a trap or fenced area, so they can be eliminated. The trained hog is turned loose and permitted to mingle with the wild hogs and then signaled to lead the others in to the trap or enclosure. Works with sheep and goats.

 

[Bluetick]

How you figure. The PA Supreme Court authority over wild hogs. The legislature is seeking to remove that authority, but has made no provision to assign regulatory control over these hogs to Ag.

The legislature can remove regulatory authority from the GC.

But without the additional bill or language placing it back under Ag - they fall into a black unregulated hole.

The court decision will still rule. There is no automatic default to this.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Easy, the ag code gave and still gives authority over SWINE to the Dept of Ag. That law never changed. The court only said wild boar are not domestic PIGS, not that they were not Swine. This law only returns things to the pre-court case status.

 

[Bluetick]

PN 0618 Referred to GAME AND FISHERIES, March 8, 2013
Reported as committed, March 12, 2013
First consideration, March 12, 2013
Second consideration, March 13, 2013
Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, March 13, 2013
Re-reported as committed, March 18, 2013
Third consideration and final passage, March 19, 2013 (32-18)
In the House
Referred to GAME AND FISHERIES, March 21, 2013
Reported as committed, April 9, 2013
First consideration, April 9, 2013
Laid on the table, April 9, 2013
Removed from table, April 10, 2013
<span style="font-weight: bold">Re-committed to GAME AND FISHERIES, April 24, 2013 </span>


Word is this bill is going back to committee to be amended to address the issue of assigning regulatory authority back to the Department of Ag.

While they take the court appointed authority over feral hogs away from the GC - they nowhere in the bill reassigned it to Ag.

 

[Bluetick]

A fairly balanced article on feral hogs and laws to control them.. of all p;laces - the NY Times:


Worth the time to read:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/28/us/hun...ed=all&_r=0

 

[Woods walker]

What that means is that once again no one will be incharge of feral hogs, because the Dept og Ag equals no one.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

The bill is actually narrower than many thought. It exempts only those held in captivity, not those in the wild. It would appear that those are still subject to PGC regulation to the extent that they are not domestic pigs.

 

[Bluetick]

PN 0618 Referred to GAME AND FISHERIES, March 8, 2013
Reported as committed, March 12, 2013
First consideration, March 12, 2013
Second consideration, March 13, 2013
Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, March 13, 2013
Re-reported as committed, March 18, 2013
Third consideration and final passage, March 19, 2013 (32-18)
In the House
<span style="font-weight: bold">Referred to GAME AND FISHERIES, March 21, 2013
Reported as committed, April 9, 2013 </span> First consideration, April 9, 2013
Laid on the table, April 9, 2013
Removed from table, April 10, 2013
<span style="font-weight: bold">Re-committed to GAME AND FISHERIES, April 24, 2013 </span>

Recommitted to House G&F Committee.... seems no authority giving Pa Ag regulatory authority was contained in the bill.

The bill needs to be amended and once through the house, go back to the senate for a concurrence vote.