HB 1379 — An Act amending the act of June 28, 1995 (P.L.89, No.18), known as the Conservation and Natural Resources Act, in Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, further providing for forests and establishing the Forest Fire Warden Fund.

PRINTER'S NO.    1580

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1379
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY STENDER, ARMANINI, GILLEN, HAMM, E. NELSON, RADER
        AND WATRO, MAY 2, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
        PREPAREDNESS, MAY 4, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of June 28, 1995 (P.L.89, No.18), entitled "An
 2      act creating the Department of Conservation and Natural
 3      Resources consisting of certain functions of the Department
 4      of Environmental Resources and the Department of Community
 5      Affairs; renaming the Department of Environmental Resources
 6      as the Department of Environmental Protection; defining the
 7      role of the Environmental Quality Board in the Department of
 8      Environmental Protection; making changes to responsibilities
 9      of the State Conservation Commission and the Department of
10      Agriculture; transferring certain powers and duties to the
11      Department of Health; and repealing inconsistent acts," in
12      Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, further
13      providing for forests.
14      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
15   hereby enacts as follows:
16      Section 1.    Section 302(a) and (d) of the act of June 28,
17   1995 (P.L.89, No.18), known as the Conservation and Natural
18   Resources Act, are amended by adding paragraphs to read:
19   Section 302.    Forests.
20      (a)   Acquisition, establishment and disposition.--The
21   department has the following powers and duties with respect to
22   the acquisition, establishment and disposition of State forest
23   lands and certain other Commonwealth-owned resources:
 1            * * *
 2            (14)    To reimburse activities approved and submitted
 3      under subsection (d)(13) and (14).
 4      * * *
 5      (d)   Chief Forest Fire Warden.--The Chief Forest Fire Warden,
 6   subject to the approval of the secretary, shall have the
 7   following powers and duties to:
 8            * * *
 9            (13)    Approve activities to be carried out by local
10      forest fire wardens, including:
11                   (i)    Controlled or prescribed burns.
12                   (ii)    Public relations events.
13                   (iii)    Fire investigations.
14                   (iv)    Training required by the department for local
15            fire wardens.
16            (14)    Establish a form and manner for local forest fire
17      wardens to request reimbursement from the department for
18      activities approved under paragraph (13).
19      * * *
20      Section 2.         This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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