The current arrangement of the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s (PGC) nine districts disproportionately distributes representation among the PGC’s Board of Commissioners. The Commissioners function as a board of directors, establishing policy for the portfolio of the Commonwealth’s wildlife resources. Due to the population distribution of the Commonwealth, some Commissioners represent a much greater number of residents on the Board compared to their colleagues.
 
Currently, the Ninth District includes the counties of Carbon, Monroe, Schuylkill, Berks, Northampton, and Lehigh. Meanwhile, the Seventh District currently includes the counties of Susquehanna, Wyoming, Luzerne, Lackawanna, Wayne, and Pike. As a result, the Ninth District has more than double the population of its neighboring Seventh District. To help balance these populations, I plan to re-introduce legislation that would remove Carbon and Monroe counties from the Ninth District and add them to the Seventh District. In addition, my legislation would also lower the number of Commissioners needed to constitute a meeting quorum from six to a simple majority of five.
 
These changes would ensure equitable population distribution among PGC Districts and would allow the PGC Board to govern more efficiently. Please consider joining me to improve the representation and function of the PGC’s Board of Commissioners by cosponsoring this important measure.

Prior Co-Sponsors (HB 1572): CIRESI, ROZZI, SANCHEZ, MADDEN, NEILSON and GREEN

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 0150: 34-301(b), 34-321(c)