FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
State Rep. Neal Goodman D-Schuylkill www.pahouse.com/Goodman

Hunting license display requirement to end

HARRISBURG, Dec. 15 -- Legislation championed by state Rep. Neal Goodman since he took office to end the requirement for hunters and trappers to display their licenses on an outer garment was signed into law today.

Goodman, D-Schuylkill, initially introduced the legislation in 2003, his first year in office. The bill the governor signed was sponsored by state Rep. Keith Gillespie, R-York.

“I congratulate my good friend and fellow hunter Representative Gillespie on getting this legislation through the General Assembly," Goodman said. "We have worked together on this issue for several years.”

Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe praised the work of both lawmakers.

"Since 2003, the Game Commission has been supporting various drafts of legislation sponsored by Representatives Gillespie and Goodman to remove this antiquated requirement," Roe said. "With today’s new license format, this change in law will make hunting less complicated, improve license management by hunters and trappers, and limit the inconveniences and troubles associated with lost or misplaced licenses."

Goodman said in the past six years, Pennsylvania hunters lost more than 50,000 licenses at a cost of more than $300,000.

"Hunters from across the state have been asking for this legislation for years, and I'm pleased that it has finally become law," Goodman said. "It will save time and money for hunters who lose their license from their garments when trudging through dense brush, climbing under a fence or exiting a duck blind."

Goodman reminded hunters and trappers that the new law doesn’t take effect for 60 days, so they need to continue to wear their licenses on an outer garment until Feb. 13.