HB 441 — An Act amending the act of June 23, 1982 (P.L.597, No.170), known as the Wild Resource Conservation Act, further providing for legislative finding and declaration of policy and for definitions; and providing for wild native terrestrial invertebrate management.

PRINTER'S NO.   410

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 441
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY PIELLI, SANCHEZ, GIRAL, WEBSTER, HILL-EVANS,
        HOHENSTEIN, McANDREW, FREEMAN, BOROWSKI, OTTEN, VITALI,
        HOWARD, ISAACSON, BRENNAN, FRANKEL, GREEN, KHAN, MADDEN,
        D. WILLIAMS, GUENST, PROBST, KENYATTA, STEELE, KRAJEWSKI,
        RABB, CONKLIN AND DAVIDSON, JANUARY 31, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE
        PROTECTION, JANUARY 31, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of June 23, 1982 (P.L.597, No.170), entitled
 2      "An act providing for a voluntary contribution system to aid
 3      in the conservation of certain wild flora and fauna,
 4      establishing a special fund and providing for its
 5      administration, establishing a procedure for the protection
 6      of wild flora, establishing a permit system, imposing powers
 7      and duties on the Department of Environmental Resources and
 8      imposing penalties," further providing for legislative
 9      finding and declaration of policy and for definitions; and
10      providing for wild native terrestrial invertebrate
11      management.
12      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
13   hereby enacts as follows:
14      Section 1.    Section 2(6) and (7) of the act of June 23, 1982
15   (P.L.597, No.170), known as the Wild Resource Conservation Act,
16   are amended to read:
17   Section 2.   Legislative finding; declaration of policy.
18      It is hereby determined and declared as a matter of
19   legislative finding that there are numerous flora and fauna,
20   including those rare or endangered, which are not commonly
 1   pursued, killed or consumed either for sport or profit, that
 2   such species are in need of more active management and that it
 3   is in the public interest to preserve and enhance such species
 4   for the benefit of all. Therefore, it is the purpose of this act
 5   to:
 6             * * *
 7             (6)   Conserve and protect wild plant species and wild
 8         native terrestrial invertebrates recognized as endangered,
 9         threatened or vulnerable.
10             (7)   Conduct an investigation to determine the status of
11         wild plants and wild native terrestrial invertebrates,
12         classify wild plants and wild native terrestrial
13         invertebrates indigenous to or found in the Commonwealth and
14         provide for their protection.
15             * * *
16         Section 2.   The definition of "wild resource" in section 3 of
17   the act is amended and the section is amended by adding a
18   definition to read:
19   Section 3.      Definitions.
20         The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
21   have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the
22   meanings given to them in this section:
23         * * *
24         "Wild native terrestrial invertebrate."   A naturally
25   occurring native nonaquatic, land-dwelling animal lacking a
26   backbone.
27         * * *
28         "Wild resource."   All fauna, including native terrestrial
29   invertebrates, not commonly pursued, killed or consumed either
30   for sport or profit, but not including any domestic fauna or any

20250HB0441PN0410                      - 2 -
 1   domestic fauna that has reverted to a feral existence, and all
 2   flora not commonly considered an agricultural commodity.
 3      Section 3.    The act is amended by adding a section to read:
 4   Section 7.1.    Wild native terrestrial invertebrate management.
 5      (a)   In addition to the powers and duties granted to it by
 6   the act of June 28, 1995 (P.L.89, No.18), known as the
 7   "Conservation and Natural Resources Act," the Department of
 8   Conservation and Natural Resources shall, with cooperation from
 9   taxonomists, biologists, academia, nonprofit organizations and
10   other interested persons, have the following duties:
11            (1)   Conduct investigations on wild native terrestrial
12      invertebrates in order to ascertain information relating to
13      population, distribution, habitat needs, limiting factors and
14      other biological and ecological data to classify terrestrial
15      invertebrates and to determine management measures necessary
16      for their continued ability to sustain themselves
17      successfully.
18            (2)   Coordinate with Federal and State agencies for
19      successful wild native terrestrial invertebrate conservation.
20            (3)   Develop practices and guidance for reducing and
21      mitigating risks to invertebrate biodiversity.
22      (b)   The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
23   shall establish a classification procedure that should include,
24   but may not be limited to, the following categories:
25            (1)   Endangered. Species in danger of extinction
26      throughout all or most of its range if critical habitat is
27      not maintained or is greatly exploited by man.
28            (2)   Threatened. Species likely to become endangered
29      throughout all or most of its range if critical habitat is
30      not maintained or is greatly exploited by man.

20250HB0441PN0410                    - 3 -
 1      (c)   On the basis of such determinations, the Department of
 2   Conservation and Natural Resources shall issue regulations not
 3   later than two years from the effective date of this subsection,
 4   after public notice, after receiving data from interested
 5   persons and after holding public hearings. The regulations shall
 6   set limitations related to the taking, possessing, transporting,
 7   exporting, processing, selling or offering for sale or shipment
 8   as may be deemed necessary to manage wild native terrestrial
 9   invertebrates.
10      (d)   Upon the issuance of the final regulations under
11   subsection (c), the Department of Conservation and Natural
12   Resources may create a list of endangered and threatened
13   species. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
14   may add or delete species from the list under this subsection as
15   conditions change and may amend the final regulations under
16   subsection (c) to reflect the changing environment in accordance
17   with the laws of this Commonwealth.
18      Section 4.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




20250HB0441PN0410                   - 4 -