The General Assembly passed and Gov. Wolf has signed a bill that will add a ninth game commissioner to the Pennsylvania Game Commission Board of Commissioners. And amendment to HB 1122 includes a provision to add a ninth seat to the board. The new district would include Carbon, Monroe, Schuylkill, Berks, Northampton and Lehigh counties. The addition of the ninth seat takes effect immediately; however, all individuals serving on Game Commission appointments must be approved by the Senate.
Currently, the board has three vacant seats and does not have enough active commissioners for a quorum. The board was unable to do official business at their January meeting, which included the approval of the new seasons and bag limits. The board won’t pick up its prepared agenda until at least one of three vacant commissioner seats is filled, bringing the board to a quorum. If they are unable to conduct business at a future meeting due to lack of quorum, the previous year’s regulations will carry over to the new season.
The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau supports the addition of a ninth seat on the board, as it will allow for better representation of those counties.