An Act amending Title 30 (Fish) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in fishing licenses, further providing for disabled veterans and former prisoners of war and for deployed Pennsylvania National Guard members and, the official text

PRINTER'S NO.  185
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
232
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY PENNYCUICK, ROTHMAN, BROOKS, FONTANA, LANGERHOLC,
BROWN, BARTOLOTTA, COSTA, J. WARD, STEFANO, MASTRIANO AND
FARRY, FEBRUARY 4, 2025
REFERRED TO GAME AND FISHERIES, FEBRUARY 4, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 30 (Fish) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in fishing licenses, further providing for disabled
veterans and former prisoners of war and for deployed
Pennsylvania National Guard members and repealing provisions
relating to reserve component of armed forces members.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1.  Sections 2707(a) and (b) and 2707.1 heading and
(a) of Title 30 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are
amended to read:
§ 2707.  Disabled veterans and former prisoners of war.
(a)  General rule for disabled veterans.--
[(1)  Any disabled veteran who has a disability incurred
in any war or armed conflict which consists of the loss of
one or more limbs, or the loss of use of one or more limbs,
or total blindness, or who is 100% disabled as certified by
the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and who
meets the qualifications of section 2701 (relating to
resident fishing licenses), shall be issued a free resident
fishing license upon application to the commission or a
county treasurer. An application submitted by a disabled
veteran shall, in addition to any information required under
section 2701, contain a statement that the applicant is a war
or armed conflict veteran and that the qualifying disability
was service incurred. The issuing agent or the commission may
require the production of the discharge papers of the
applicant.]
(2)  Any disabled veteran who has a service-connected
disability [incurred in any war or armed conflict and
possesses a disability] rating between 60% and 99% as
certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
and who meets the qualifications of section 2701 (relating to
resident fishing licenses) shall be issued a resident fishing
license at the cost of $1 upon application to the commission
or a county treasurer. An application submitted by a disabled
veteran shall, in addition to any information required under
section 2701, [contain a statement that the applicant is a
war or armed conflict veteran and that the qualifying
disability was service incurred. The issuing agent or the
commission may require the production of the discharge papers
of the applicant.] include a copy of the disability rating
determination letter from the United States Department of
Veterans Affairs.
* * *
(b)  Lifetime licenses.--
(1)  [If a disabled veteran who qualifies for issuance of
a free resident fishing license under subsection (a)(1)
presents documentation to show that the qualifying disability
is permanent, the] The commission or county treasurer shall
issue a free disabled veteran lifetime fishing license[.] to
a disabled veteran who:
(i)  has a service-connected disability    rating of
100%;
(ii)  submits a copy of the disability rating
determination letter from the United States Department of
Veterans Affairs    to the commission or county treasurer
stating that the disability rating of 100% is a
determination by the    United States Department of Veterans
Affairs;    and
(iii)  meets the qualifications of section 2701.
(2)  A disabled veteran who meets the qualifications
under subsection (a) or a former prisoner of war who meets
the qualifications of section 2701(b) shall be issued a
senior resident lifetime fishing license at the cost of $1
upon application to the commission or a county treasurer.
* * *
§ 2707.1.  Deployed Pennsylvania National Guard members and
reserve component of armed forces members.
(a)  Eligibility.--The commission or a county treasurer shall
issue one annual resident fishing license at a cost of $1 to any
person eligible under section 2701 (relating to resident fishing
licenses) for the license who provides documentation that within
the previous 24 months the person was deployed [overseas] as a
member of the Pennsylvania [Army National Guard or Air National
Guard on active Federal service] National Guard or as a member
of the reserve component of the armed forces as defined in 51
Pa.C.S. § 7301 (relating to definitions) for a period of 60
consecutive days or more or was released early from such service
because of an injury or disease incurred in the line of duty.
Only one [Pennsylvania National Guard] annual resident fishing
license under this section may be issued for each qualifying
deployment of a person applying for the license for the previous
24-month period.
* * *
Section 2.  Section 2707.2 of Title 30 is repealed:
[§ 2707.2.  Reserve component of armed forces members.
(a)  Eligibility.--The commission or a county treasurer shall
issue one annual resident fishing license at a cost of $1 to any
person eligible for the license under section 2701 (relating to
resident fishing licenses) who provides documentation that
within the previous 24 months the person was deployed overseas
as a member of the reserve component of the armed forces
pursuant to 51 Pa.C.S. § 7301 (relating to definitions) for a
period of 60 consecutive days or more or was released early from
service because of an injury or disease incurred in the line of
duty. Only one fishing license under this section may be issued
for each qualifying deployment of a person applying for the
license.
(b)  Regulations.--The commission may promulgate regulations
to implement this section.]
Section 3.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.