Game Commission praises passage of landowner liability law
HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe praised the state Senate for its unanimous approval of House Bill 13, sponsored by Rep. Harry A. Readshaw (D-Allegheny), which seeks to amend the state’s landowner liability law. On June 26, the Senate voted 50-0 to send Readshaw’s bill to Gov. Edward G. Rendell’s desk for his consideration. House Bill 13 previously was approved by the House on May 23, by a vote of 199-0.
If the bill is signed by Gov. Rendell, the change in law will take effect immediately.
“For decades, the Recreational Use of Land and Water Act stood to protect landowners who agree to open their land to hunters,” Roe said. “However, a recent civil case in Lehigh County, demonstrated that there was a need to strengthen the law, thereby continuing to provide liability protection for landowners who generously open their lands to hunters.
“With the General Assembly’s unanimous approval of Rep. Readshaw’s bill, we urge Gov. Rendell’s to sign this bill into law.”
Roe offered special praise to Readshaw for sponsoring the bill, and Sens. Robert D. Robbins (R-Mercer) and Jake Corman (R-Centre) for their leadership on the bill during Senate consideration.