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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | July 22, 2014 11:05 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Martin T. Causer |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Merger of Game & Fish Agencies |
| In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation to merge the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and the Pennsylvania Game Commission into one independent agency, based on the results of the recent Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) study on the issue. As you know, the House last year passed my HR 129 directing the LBFC to examine the feasibility, impact, costs and savings of combining the agencies and to explore a range of options with regard to how to structure a new agency to best manage the wildlife and aquatic resources of the Commonwealth. Currently, Pennsylvania is the only state in the nation with two separate, independent agencies with management and oversight of fishing, boating and wildlife activities. In March, the LBFC released the results of its study, which found that a merger of the commissions is feasible and would save the Commonwealth about $5 million annually, primarily through elimination of redundant upper level positions and duplication of services. Given the concerns about financial difficulties frequently expressed by the agencies, and the reality that other states’ wildlife agencies can operate efficiently under one umbrella, I believe now is the time to take a more serious look at combing the two commissions into one more streamlined, efficient agency. |