The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts held a Capitol Day where over 200 participants discussed the need to obtain consistent and sufficient funding for conservation district activities and staff, amendments to the Conservation District Law, and landowner liability legislation.

PACD also announced former Sen. Noah W. Wenger was recognized as the recipient of the 2006 PACD Legislator Recognition Award. PACD presents this award to a legislator whose outstanding efforts have helped further the activities and accomplishments of the PACD or Pennsylvania's 66 county conservation districts.

“These issues are vital to Pennsylvania’s Conservation Districts,” said Victor Cappucci, President of the PACD. “We spoke with our friends in the PA General Assembly explaining the importance of these legislative initiatives.”

Susan Marquart, Executive Director of PACD, added, “The focus of our Capitol Day luncheon is to bring forth ideas and generate enthusiasm for our concerns. This successful event is an extension of an ongoing dialog between the Conservation Districts and our elected leaders.”

Some of the legislative highlights included:

Funding Needs for Conservation Districts: A review of the Operation and Structure of County Conservation Districts released on June 7, 2005 by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee concurs with the position of the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts that Pennsylvania’s conservation districts are under funded. The study recommends that the state should pay 50 percent of the costs for certain conservation district staff positions. Additionally, 30 conservation districts are currently administering the Chapter 105 program without a state appropriation. Funding is needed to reimburse those districts and to expand the program to other counties.

Amendments to the Conservation District Law: Conservation districts administer a wide array of delegated and contracted state programs with a number of funding sources. To update and strengthen Act 217, and continue to meet the conservation needs of the Commonwealth, two major enhancements were suggested as amendments to the Conservation District Law: increasing the capacity of districts to deliver locally led conservation; and further defining and strengthening the State Conservation Commission.

Dedicated Funding for the Conservation Districts: PACD is talking with members of the General Assembly and the Rendell Administration concerning dedicated funding for conservation districts. As was referenced above, the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee report recommends that the General Assembly strive to meet the State Conservation Commission’s policy of 50 percent funding for the district managers and technicians. Districts are continuously undertaking more responsibilities and program implementation with less funding. By instituting a dedicated funding source, districts will be guaranteed a funding base and Pennsylvania citizens will be guaranteed continuing technical assistance to further their land stewardship activities.

Landowner Liability: PACD is promoting legislation strengthening current landowner liability law to protect landowners who invite individuals onto their land for recreational purposes. A recent Lehigh County civil court case (Burns v. Wetzel) involved a hunting accident in which a farmer was held partly liable for the acts of a hunter that was invited onto his property. While the case was ultimately settled out of court, it accentuated the necessity of landowner protection. Recently introduced legislation, House Bill 13 (Readshaw-D-Allegheny) and House Bill 74 (Harhart-R-Lehigh), enhance current landowner safeguards.

For more information, visit PACD’s Capitol Day webpage.

3/30/2007