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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Gary Haluska |
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House passes Haluska bill repealing law enforcement powers for Fish & Boat commissioners
HARRISBURG, April 21 – The state House of Representatives today passed legislation introduced by Rep. Gary Haluska, D-Cambria, that would repeal a portion of Pennsylvania law that gives state Fish and Boat commissioners law enforcement powers.
Presently, members of the board of commissioners of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission receive a badge and the powers of waterways conservation officers when they are sworn in. However, Haluska said, unlike waterways conservation officers, commissioners are not required to receive the training or testing to go with that badge.
"While Pennsylvania's Fish and Boat commissioners are certainly well informed on the subjects of conservation, restoration, fishing and boating, they are not trained law enforcement officers or knowledgeable in criminal law procedures," Haluska said. "Giving them law enforcement powers not only is unnecessary, but frankly, puts the public at risk and presents a potential liability problem for the Fish and Boat Commission and the state's taxpayers."
Haluska's bill (H.B. 320) would remove the language from state law that gives Fish and Boat commissioners the law enforcement powers of waterways conservation officers.
"Pennsylvania already has a force of waterways conservation officers who have the law enforcement training, and the proper knowledge and equipment, to enforce the state's fishing and boating laws and regulations. There is no reason to confer these powers on an additional 10 people who don't need them and are not prepared to exercise them."
The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.
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