FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
State Rep. Gary Haluska D-Cambria www.pahouse.com/Haluska

Committee unanimously advances Haluska proposal

Bill would remove enforcement powers from Fish & Boat Commission board members

HARRISBURG, March 31 – The state House Game and Fisheries Committee today unanimously approved a bill introduced by state Rep. Gary Haluska, D-Cambria, that would remove the ability of Fish and Boat Commission board members to enforce state fishing and boating laws.   

State law gives waterways conservation officers the power to enforce state law while patrolling Pennsylvania's waterways. Waterways conservation officers – who receive extensive training and evaluation -- can issue subpoenas, execute warrants, search and seize property, and make arrests as part of their duties.

However, a provision of the law also gives most of those same enforcement powers to commission board members, despite their lack of training and testing. Haluska's proposal (H.B. 587) would repeal that part of the law.

"Fish and Boat Commission board members shouldn’t be allowed to enforce laws without the training and expertise required of professional waterways conservation officers," Haluska explained. "That lack of training could put them -- as well as fishermen, boaters and the general public -- at risk while also creating liability issues for the state, so I'm aiming to take that power away."

Haluska's bill now heads to the full House for consideration.

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