The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) purchases land to provide additional hunting opportunities to the sportsmen and women of the Commonwealth, to preserve local water and air quality, mitigate flood risks, protect wildlife, and make state game lands more accessible to the public. Unfortunately, current Pennsylvania law serves as a barrier to success when the PGC seeks to acquire land.
 
By law, the PGC is capped at a purchase price of $400 per acre except in a county of the second class. As such, this makes it incredibly difficult to acquire land with significantly higher values which slows the development of new and expanding state game lands. However, based on recent discussions with various state and municipal leaders located throughout Pennsylvania, exceptions should be made for rural counties in which other potential buyers may be at a significant financial disadvantage when compared with the PGC.
 
Therefore, in an effort to conserve land for public access and to protect vulnerable habitats, I will be introducing legislation that would allow the PGC to acquire land at a fair and reasonable price in counties of the first through fifth classes. However, the $400 price per acre cap would remain in place for counties of the sixth through eighth classes.
 
The PGC not only serves our sportsmen and women, but it also serves as a steward of our shared environment and natural resources, providing Pennsylvanians with access to green spaces close to their homes. Please join me in sponsoring this important legislation.