House committee unanimously passes Boback bill

HARRISBURG – Rep. Karen Boback Monday announced that the House Game and Fisheries Committee unanimously passed and reported her bill — House Bill 490 — that seeks to provide reciprocal agreements for active duty military and disabled veterans’ hunting and fishing licenses.

“I am thrilled to see the unanimous passage of this bill out of committee,” said Boback, R-Harveys Lake. “This bill offers an opportunity to both active duty service members and disabled veterans who are hunters and anglers.”

Boback said the bill also seeks to encourage other states to enter into agreements with Pennsylvania and create and offer great savings to our service members.

“This will also provide the opportunity to increase attraction to our Commonwealth for more travel from non-resident military sportsmen, offering a much-needed boost to our economy,” Boback said.

Boback said the legislation would allow the Pennsylvania Attorney General to enter into reciprocal agreements with other states to recognize lawfully issued hunting and fishing license or permit types for active duty military and disabled veterans, as resident licenses or permits in each state, provided the Attorney General has determined that the fishing and hunting laws of states are similar to the hunting and fishing laws of our Commonwealth.

The bill has been reported to the House floor as committed.