In Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, further providing for forests.
Summary
HB1378 amends the Conservation and Natural Resources Act to change the staffing structure for forest fire management within the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). The bill keeps the existing authority to appoint a Chief Forest Fire Warden and other forest fire wardens, but adds language specifying that the Chief Forest Fire Warden is also to serve as a Deputy Secretary in the department.
In practical terms, the bill appears to elevate the Chief Forest Fire Warden role within DCNR’s organizational hierarchy while leaving the underlying forest fire prevention, control, and suppression responsibilities intact. The measure takes effect 60 days after enactment.
Impact
The bill would amend section 302(a)(7) of the Conservation and Natural Resources Act, which governs DCNR’s powers and duties over State forest lands and forest fire personnel. It would not create a new program or change forest fire operations directly, but it would formally link the Chief Forest Fire Warden position to a Deputy Secretary role, potentially affecting internal administration, reporting structure, and the authority of the office within DCNR.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or recorded vote information was provided, so there is no direct evidence of support or opposition from legislative debate. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears administrative and narrowly focused, suggesting a generally procedural or organizational intent rather than a controversial policy change.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the available materials. If concerns were raised, they would most likely relate to whether elevating the Chief Forest Fire Warden to Deputy Secretary changes the balance of authority within DCNR, affects compensation or staffing structure, or creates an additional layer of bureaucracy. However, the provided record does not show any expressed objections or endorsements.
In wiretapping and electronic surveillance, further providing for definitions and repealing provisions relating to public access; in enforcement relating to fish, further providing for powers and duties of waterways conservation officers and deputies; in enforcement relating to game, further providing for powers and duties of enforcement officers; in recordings by law enforcement officers, further providing for definitions and for audio recording or video recording policies; in Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, further providing for powers and duties of Department of Corrections; and making transfers between the State Gaming Fund and certain restricted accounts.