(HARRISBURG) – A plan by Senator Devlin Robinson (R-37) to change the timing of boat registrations in Pennsylvania was approved today by the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee.
Robinson’s bill aligns the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s boat registration period with the calendar year.
“An outdated provision in the Fish and Boat Code that specifies that boat registrations last from April 1 to March 31 of the second year creates significant confusion – especially with inexperienced boaters who believe their registration is valid longer than it really is,” Senator Robinson said. “Expired boat registrations are one of the most common violations that the Commission’s Waterways Conservation Officers encounter in the field.”
Under the Robinson bill, the boat registration period would last two years, beginning on January 1 and extend until December 31 of the second year such as Jan. 1, 2021, to Dec. 31, 2022. The goal of the legislation is to provide a more predictable and common-sense registration cycle which would also align with the Commission’s permits for canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards.
The bill now goes to the full Senate for consideration.
CONTACT: Elizabeth Weitzel