A victory & peace of mind for landowners as well sportsmen & women!
Thanks to everyone who helped get this law passed.
 
HB   13  Readshaw  Amends "An act encouraging landowners to make land and water areas available to the public for recreational purposes by limiting liability in connection therewith and repealing certain acts" by stating that an owner of land who either directly or indirectly invites or permits any person to use his property for recreational purposes does not assume responsibility for or incur liability for any injury to persons or property caused while hunting as defined in 34 PA.C.S. Sec. 102 (relating to definitions). 
              - Jun 30, 2007 - Approved by the Governor  Act 11
 
 
PFB: New law eases landowner liability concerns for farmers and hunters.
Text of July 2 press release.
(Camp Hill) -- Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) says farmers who have allowed hunting on their land will likely continue to do so after the enactment of legislation that increases liability protection for landowners. The legislation (House Bill 13) was signed into law by Governor Ed Rendell on June 30th.
"Farmers now can be more confident that their livelihood won't be at risk when they open their land to hunters. We have wanted our good relationships with hunters to continue because they help us control wildlife damage to our crops while we provide them a place to enjoy recreational activities," said PFB President Carl T. Shaffer. "The General Assembly and Governor Rendell worked effectively on a bi-partisan basis to tackle the problem in record time."
House Bill 13 amends the Recreational Use of Land and Water Act (RULWA), which for more than four decades has provided liability protection for actions that occur on a landowner's property as a result of recreational activity -- such as hunting, fishing, swimming and hiking -- as long as the landowner does not charge a fee. The need to amend RULWA was sparked by a 2006 court case in which the owner of a Lehigh County orchard was found partially liable for injuries caused by a hunter's stray bullet, which struck a woman a half-mile away.
House Bill 13 had widespread support, as the House and Senate unanimously passed the measure. Farm Bureau specifically recognized Representative Harry Readshaw (36th District, Allegheny County), who was the prime sponsor of the legislation, and Senator Rob Wonderling (24th District, including Bucks, Lehigh, Northampton and Montgomery Counties), who sponsored legislation in the Senate.
Farm Bureau notes that the new law balances the rights of landowners with the rights of potential victims. "While the law provides reasonable liability safeguards for farmers and other landowners, the law does not prevent an injured party from recovering damages from the individual who caused the injury," concluded Shaffer.
The new law takes effect immediately.
Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is a voluntary organization with a membership of more than 42,000 farm and rural families, representing farms of every size and commodity across the Keystone State.
Contact: Gary Swan, (717) 761-2740
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Release #081-07
July 2, 2007
For Information Contact:
Jerry Feaser
717-705-6541
PGCNews@state.pa.us
GAME COMMISSION COMMENDS GOV. RENDELL FOR SIGNING BILL TO AMEND LANDOWNER LIABILITY LAW
HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe praised Gov. Edward G. Rendell for signing into law House Bill 13, sponsored by Rep. Harry A. Readshaw (D-Allegheny), which seeks to amend the state's landowner liability law. 
On June 26, the Senate voted 50-0 to send House Bill 13 to Gov. Rendell's desk for his consideration.  House Bill 13 previously was approved by the House on May 23, by a vote of 199-0. 
"For decades, the Recreational Use of Land and Water Act stood to protect landowners who agree to open their land to hunters," Roe said.  "However, a recent civil case in Lehigh County, demonstrated that there was a need to strengthen the law, thereby continuing to provide liability protection for landowners who generously open their lands to hunters.
"With Gov. Rendell's signature, new language has been added to the law to provide additional liability protections for landowners who welcome hunters onto their properties."
Roe offered special praise to Readshaw for sponsoring the bill, and House Game and Fisheries Committee Chairman Edward Staback (D-Lackawanna), for his assistance in moving the measure through the House.  Roe also thanked Sens. Robert D. Robbins (R-Mercer) and Jake Corman (R-Centre) for their leadership on the bill during Senate consideration.