PRINTER'S NO. 3457
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2471
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY PIELLI, HILL-EVANS, OTTEN, HOHENSTEIN, GIRAL,
KHAN, SCHLOSSBERG, SANCHEZ, SHUSTERMAN, ROZZI, KENYATTA,
STEELE, VITALI, HOWARD, SALISBURY, WAXMAN, O'MARA, PROBST,
HADDOCK, CONKLIN AND BURGOS, JULY 1, 2024
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY,
JULY 1, 2024
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of June 23, 1982 (P.L.597, No.170), entitled
2 "An act providing for a voluntary contribution system to aid
3 in the conservation of certain wild flora and fauna,
4 establishing a special fund and providing for its
5 administration, establishing a procedure for the protection
6 of wild flora, establishing a permit system, imposing powers
7 and duties on the Department of Environmental Resources and
8 imposing penalties," further providing for legislative
9 finding and declaration of policy and for definitions; and
10 providing for wild native terrestrial invertebrate
11 management.
12 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
13 hereby enacts as follows:
14 Section 1. Section 2(6) and (7) of the act of June 23, 1982
15 (P.L.597, No.170), known as the Wild Resource Conservation Act,
16 are amended to read:
17 Section 2. Legislative finding; declaration of policy.
18 It is hereby determined and declared as a matter of
19 legislative finding that there are numerous flora and fauna,
20 including those rare or endangered, which are not commonly
21 pursued, killed or consumed either for sport or profit, that
 1 such species are in need of more active management and that it
2 is in the public interest to preserve and enhance such species
3 for the benefit of all. Therefore, it is the purpose of this act
4 to:
5 * * *
6 (6) Conserve and protect wild plant species and wild
7 native terrestrial invertebrates recognized as endangered,
8 threatened or vulnerable.
9 (7) Conduct an investigation to determine the status of
10 wild plants and wild native terrestrial invertebrates,
11 classify wild plants and wild native terrestrial
12 invertebrates indigenous to or found in the Commonwealth and
13 provide for their protection.
14 * * *
15 Section 2. The definition of "wild resource" in section 3 of
16 the act is amended and the section is amended by adding a
17 definition to read:
18 Section 3. Definitions.
19 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
20 have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the
21 meanings given to them in this section:
22 * * *
23 "Wild native terrestrial invertebrate." A naturally
24 occurring native nonaquatic, land-dwelling animal lacking a
25 backbone.
26 * * *
27 "Wild resource." All fauna, including native terrestrial
28 invertebrates, not commonly pursued, killed or consumed either
29 for sport or profit, but not including any domestic fauna or any
30 domestic fauna that has reverted to a feral existence, and all
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 1 flora not commonly considered an agricultural commodity.
2 Section 3. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
3 Section 7.1. Wild native terrestrial invertebrate management.
4 (a) In addition to the powers and duties granted to it by
5 the act of June 28, 1995 (P.L.89, No.18), known as the
6 "Conservation and Natural Resources Act," the Department of
7 Conservation and Natural Resources shall, with cooperation from
8 taxonomists, biologists and other interested persons, conduct
9 investigations on wild native terrestrial invertebrates in order
10 to ascertain information relating to population, distribution,
11 habitat needs, limiting factors and other biological and
12 ecological data to classify terrestrial invertebrates and to
13 determine management measures necessary for their continued
14 ability to sustain themselves successfully.
15 (b) The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
16 shall establish a classification procedure that should include,
17 but may not be limited to, the following categories:
18 (1) Endangered. Species in danger of extinction
19 throughout all or most of its range if critical habitat is
20 not maintained or is greatly exploited by man.
21 (2) Threatened. Species likely to become endangered
22 throughout all or most of its range if critical habitat is
23 not maintained or is greatly exploited by man.
24 (c) On the basis of such determinations, the Department of
25 Conservation and Natural Resources shall issue regulations not
26 later than two years from the effective date of this subsection,
27 after public notice, after receiving data from interested
28 persons and after holding public hearings. Such regulations so
29 established shall set limitations related to the taking,
30 possession, transportation, exportation, processing, sale or
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 1 offer for sale or shipment as may be deemed necessary to manage
2 wild native terrestrial invertebrates.
3 (d) Upon the issuance of the final regulations under
4 subsection (c), the Department of Conservation and Natural
5 Resources may create a list of endangered and threatened
6 species. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
7 may add or delete species from the list under this subsection as
8 conditions change and may amend the final regulations under
9 subsection (c) to reflect the changing environment in accordance
10 with the laws of this Commonwealth.
11 Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 3457: P.L.597, No.170