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House Game and Fisheries Committee approves bill to allow removal, disposal of abandoned or derelict boats
Summary
The House Game and Fisheries Committee passed House Bill 103, as amended, to add a chapter to Title 30 addressing abandoned, derelict and at‑risk boats, change notification periods and increase penalties in some cases; amendment A00003 was adopted before the bill passed out of committee.
The House Game and Fisheries Committee voted to pass House Bill 103, as amended, a measure to add a chapter to Title 30 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes establishing procedures for identifying, notifying owners of, and removing abandoned, derelict or “at‑risk” boats that may pose environmental hazards or public‑safety concerns.
Paul, a staff member who explained the bill to the committee, said the legislation would add a chapter to Title 30 “to address boats that are abandoned and are or are at risk of becoming an environmental hazard or public safety concern.” He told the committee the bill is supported by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the National Marine Manufacturers Association and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.
The committee adopted amendment A00003 before passing the bill. Paul described the amendment as adding a notification process requiring a municipality or law‑enforcement agency, in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, to make a reasonable effort to notify owners in person or by verifiable electronic means, or by certified mail with return receipt. The amendment lengthened all notification timeframes in the bill from 10 calendar days to 14 calendar days; specified that an at‑risk boat would be removed and stored after the period set in a notice; and set a $2,500 threshold for recovery and disposal costs above which an owner would be liable only if properly notified, Paul said. He also said the amendment raises penalties in some cases: where recovery and disposal costs do not exceed the threshold the penalty would be a summary offense of the first degree, and for derelict boats the penalty language was changed from a third‑degree misdemeanor to a first‑degree misdemeanor.
Committee members did not record roll‑call vote tallies in the transcript. The committee chair said there were no negative votes on the amendment or the bill, and both were reported out of committee.
The sponsor and staff indicated additional work is underway to identify potential recycling or disposal facilities for recovered vessels; the chair said she would provide updates to the committee when more information on facility options is available. The bill text and amendment as described specify coordination between local municipalities, law enforcement and the Fish and Boat Commission for owner notification and removal, but the transcript did not specify an implementation timeline or appropriation for disposal costs.
Votes at a glance: Amendment A00003 — adopted; House Bill 103, as amended — passed out of committee.
Background and next steps: Committee members discussed the bill as an effort to provide municipalities and state agencies a clearer procedure for handling abandoned or derelict vessels and to align notification timelines. The committee indicated the Fish and Boat Commission supports the bill and that staff will follow up about options for recycling or disposing of removed boats.
