301 - Organization of commission. - Pennsylvania Statutes

CHAPTER 3 PENNSYLVANIA FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION Subchapter A. Organization, Officers and Employees B. Powers and Duties in General Enactment. Chapter 3 was added October 16, 1980, P.L.996, No.175, effective in 90 days. Chapter Heading. The heading of Chapter 3 was amended March 19, 1992, P.L.18, No.7, effective immediately. SUBCHAPTER A ORGANIZATION, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES Sec. 301. Organization of commission. 302. Executive director. 303. Assistant executive directors. 304. Waterways patrolmen and employees. 305. Deputy waterways conservation officers. 306. Boating Advisory Board. 307. Designation of law enforcement officers. 308. Designation of commission. § 301. Organization of commission. (a) Composition.--The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is continued as an independent administrative commission and shall consist of ten competent citizens of this Commonwealth who shall be appointed by the Governor by and with the advice and consent of two-thirds of the members elected to the Senate for terms of eight years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. (b) Qualifications.--Two members of the commission shall serve at-large and be experienced in boating and water safety education and be a registered boat owner in Pennsylvania. The two boatmen members shall represent the various geographical sections and boating interests of this Commonwealth. The remaining eight members shall be persons well informed on the subject of conservation, restoration, fish and fishing and boats and boating and shall be appointed, insofar as practicable, on a bipartisan basis and from the various geographic districts of this Commonwealth so that at all times one and only one member shall be a resident of each of the following districts: (1) First district, consisting of the counties of Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Lawrence, Venango, Butler, Warren, Forest and Clarion. (2) Second district, consisting of the counties of Beaver, Allegheny, Washington, Greene, Armstrong, Indiana, Westmoreland and Fayette. (3) Third district, consisting of the counties of McKean, Elk, Jefferson, Potter, Cameron, Clearfield, Clinton and Centre. (4) Fourth district, consisting of the counties of Cambria, Somerset, Blair, Bedford, Huntingdon, Fulton, Mifflin and Juniata. (5) Fifth district, consisting of the counties of Tioga, Lycoming, Union, Snyder, Bradford, Sullivan, Columbia, Montour and Northumberland. (6) Sixth district, consisting of the counties of Franklin, Perry, Cumberland, Adams, Dauphin, York, Lebanon and Lancaster. (7) Seventh district, consisting of the counties of Susquehanna, Wyoming, Luzerne, Lackawanna, Carbon, Wayne, Pike and Monroe. (8) Eighth district, consisting of the counties of Schuylkill, Berks, Chester, Northampton, Lehigh, Bucks, Montgomery, Philadelphia and Delaware. (c) Terms of office and compensation.--The members shall hold office for terms of eight years and may continue to hold office for a period of time not to exceed six months or until a successor is appointed and qualified, whichever occurs first. A member appointed to fill a vacancy for a period of four years or less may be eligible for appointment to a full eight-year term. A member who serves a full eight-year term or fills a vacancy for a period of more than four years shall not be eligible for reappointment to the commission until a period of eight years expires. The members shall receive no compensation for their services but may be reimbursed for travel expenses. When performing any function on behalf of the commission or acting within the scope of their official duties, members of the commission shall be authorized to operate Commonwealth vehicles and watercraft and shall be treated as employees of the Commonwealth for the purposes of automotive and general liability and the act of June 2, 1915 (P.L.736, No.338), known as the Workers' Compensation Act. (d) Vacancies.--Upon the death, resignation or removal from office of any member, the Governor shall appoint a competent person to serve for the unexpired term. (e) Meetings, officers and quorum.--The commission shall have an office in the Harrisburg area and shall hold meetings in the Harrisburg area in January and July and at such other times and places within this Commonwealth as the commission shall designate for the transaction of business. At the meeting held in July of each year, the commission shall elect one of its members as president and one of its members as vice president who shall hold office for one year. Six members shall constitute a quorum. (f) Powers of waterways patrolmen.--Except for the power conferred by section 925 (relating to acknowledgment of guilt and receipts for payment), members of the commission may exercise any of the powers conferred by this title on waterways patrolmen. (Feb. 24, 1984, P.L.90, No.16, eff. 60 days; Dec. 12, 1991, P.L.368, No.39, eff. imd.; Dec. 19, 1996, P.L.1454, No.185, eff. 60 days; Jan. 29, 1998, P.L.31, No.7, eff. imd.) 2002 Partial Repeal. Section 4 of Act 231 of 2002 provided that section 301 is repealed insofar as it relates to the consent required by the Senate to appointments by the Governor. 1998 Amendment. Act 7 amended subsec. (c). 1996 Amendment. Section 4 of Act 185 provided that the amendment of subsec. (c) shall not apply to a current member of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission until the member completes the term being served on the effective date of Act 185. 1991 Amendment. Act 39 amended subsec. (a). 1984 Amendment. Act 16 amended subsecs. (a), (b) and (e).