Legislation sponsored by Senator Greg Rothman has passed the Pennsylvania Senate. The bill aims to align the Pennsylvania Game Code with constitutional protections provided by the U.S. Constitution. It received unanimous support in the Senate, following approval from the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee.
The current Title 34 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, known as the Game Code, includes provisions that make it unlawful for individuals to refuse to answer questions from Game Commission representatives. This is seen as a violation of both the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Article I Section 9 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, which protect individuals from being “compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself.”
Senator Rothman emphasized that “our Fifth Amendment rights are not surrendered when engaging in recreational or sporting activities.” He stated that “the Pennsylvania Game Code must be amended to prevent any ambiguity on this matter or abuse of power.”
Senate Bill 518 proposes removing these sections from the statute to ensure sportsmen’s constitutional rights are safeguarded. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
Morgan Wagner is listed as a contact for more information.
