REPRESENTATIVE SMITH CALLS FOR CREATION OF YOUTH FISHING LICENSES

By Eric A. Failing, PA Legislative Services

8-7-06

Representative Bruce Smith (R-R-York), Chairman of the House Game and Fisheries Committee, stated he is introducing HB 2900, which will create a new $5 fishing licenses for youth anglers between the ages of 12 to 15. According to Representative Smith, this idea has the support of both the Governor’s Youth Council for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation and the PA Fish and Boat Commission.

According to Representative Smith, this license, which has the potential of raising $2.1 million per year, is necessary to support programs dedicated to youth fishing. These funds will go to the Fish and Boat Commission for the $480,000 they spend annually on programs targeting youth with all additional money be dedicated to programs for youth, explained Representative Smith.

“Thirteen other states require a youth fishing license with an average cost of $12.16 nationwide”, added the Representative. He stressed that in PA, the barriers to this program will be removed, noting that individuals who cannot afford a license will be given a free one and enforcement actions will be used to educate young anglers and will not be focused on disciplining them.

Erin Barnes, Chairman of the Governor’s Youth Council next spoke with Kelly Sager and Cody Cogan, also members on the Council, about the need to implement a youth fishing license. They detailed the efforts that they have taken with the Commission and internally to vet the issues and stressed that this will provide needed funding to support and expand youth fishing opportunities.

Donald Anderson, President of the Fish and Boat Commission, thanked Representative Smith and the members of the Youth Council for their efforts on this bill and stated that the idea was unanimously supported at the last two meetings of the Commission.

Dr. Douglas Austen, Executive Director of the Fish and Boat Commission, also thanked the Youth Council for their work on the bill and Representative Smith for sponsoring the legislation. He added that the bill has been developed in an open environment with over 300 groups and 5,000 people being briefed on the issue. Dr. Austen stressed that youth fishing programs have a tremendous positive impact and the Commission has already awarded grants to organizations through a pilot program. He closed saying it is his belief that this will make PA the only state that uses 100% of the proceeds from youth fishing licenses for youth fishing programs.

Representative Smith closed by saying he introduced this bill now because, even though it is late in the legislative year, it is important for state fishing organizations to have time to discuss and vote to support this idea and for legislators to have the opportunity to discuss it with their constituents. He added that if it does not pass this session, it can be reintroduced next session.

Asked what he thought the chances are for the bill passing this session and how many co-sponsors he has, Representative Smith acknowledged that his only co-sponsor is Representative Mark McNaughton (R-Dauphin), who will also be retiring at the end of this session, and that he does not know if it will pass by the end of the year. Representative Smith added that during a recent meeting with the Fish and Boat Commission where this idea was discussed, legislators appeared to be supportive of the idea.

It was next asked if there would be any opportunities for Pennsylvanians to support youth angling even if they do not have children between the ages of 12-15. Dr. Austen explained that when the new point-of-sale system in implemented in December, residents will be able to purchase vouchers that will be used to provide licenses to those children that cannot afford a license.

To view the packet (that includes the legislation) distributed during the press conference, please click here.

To view the legislation, please click here.

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Rep. Bruce Smith
92nd District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(717) 938-4988
(717) 783-8783

www.RepBruceSmith.com
Contact: Len Bennett

House Republican Public Relations
(717) 787-3407
www.pahousegop.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 7, 2006

Smith Proposes Youth Fishing License

The proceeds would be directed to programs benefiting youth anglers

HARRISBURG -- Rep. Bruce Smith (R-York/Cumberland) introduced legislation today that would create a Youth Fishing License for persons 12 to 15 years old.

The license would cost $5 and the proceeds would be directed to programs benefiting youth anglers, said Smith who chairs the House Game and Fisheries Committee.

"This measure has the full support of the Fish and Boat Commission and the Governor's Youth Council for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation," Smith said. "This is a 'fun' raising measure not a fund raising measure as the proceeds from the licenses will be used to promote the joys of fishing. At the same time, it's educational. More young students will learn about fishing in their schools, clubs and through community fishing organizations."

The potential annual revenue from a junior license would be $2.1 million per year. Over the past few years, an average of $480,000 annually was spent by the Fish and Boat Commission on programs targeting youth. All additional dollars generated by the junior license will be dedicated to programs for youth.

If House Bill 2900 becomes law, Pennsylvania would join 13 states that require some form of license or permit for their youth anglers. The average cost of a youth fishing license nationwide is $12.16.

At $5, a youth fishing license would cost less than a new music CD ($13); video or computer game ($39); movie ticket ($6.50); or admission to an amusement park (as much as $44).

Smith said the Fish and Boat Commission is committed to ensuring that cost won't be a barrier for youngsters who cannot afford a license.

"The commission will work with clubs and organizations to sponsor the purchase of licenses for youngsters who can't afford them," Smith said.

Smith said that a youth license was proposed as recently as 2004 but the idea was dropped when some lawmakers expressed concern about enforcement and other problems.

Smith said that he has been assured that enforcement problems have been ironed out and that if Waterways Conservation Officers encounter unlicensed youth they will use it as an opportunity to inform rather than punish.

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