House Gives Green Light to Study Potential Merger of Game, Fish-Boat Commissions, Causer Says

HARRISBURG – The state House has given the go ahead for launching a detailed study of the potential impacts of merging the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, said Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint), prime sponsor of the measure.

“The idea of merging the Game Commission and the Fish and Boat Commission as a means to save money and improve efficiency is definitely one worth exploring,” said Causer, chairman of the House Game and Fisheries Committee. “But we need good, solid information about the potential impacts – good or bad – before we make any decisions. I am pleased that we can now move forward with gathering that information through this study.”

House Resolution 129 calls on the non-partisan Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) to study the financial feasibility, impact, costs and savings that may be realized by combining the agencies. It also calls on the LBFC to explore a range of options with regard to how to structure the state’s wildlife agency to best manage the wildlife and aquatic resources of the Commonwealth.

A similar study was conducted 10 years ago, and it showed a merger was feasible and would save money. No legislative action resulted from the study’s findings, however.

“In the end, this is about doing what’s best for the Commonwealth’s sportsmen and anglers,” Causer said. “With both agency directors saying they are facing financial struggles, we owe it to the men and women who pay for licenses to hunt, fish and boat to make sure they are getting the most bang for their buck.” 

The resolution passed unanimously. The study is expected to take about six months.