House Bill 798, authored by Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon), was signed this week by Gov. Tom Corbett. Now Act 24 of 2014, the bill reduces the length of terms for Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission commissioners.

"The goal of this legislation is to increase the accountability of the commission to the public, while also enhancing its duty to look after the boating and fishing interests of Pennsylvanians," said Heffley, who is also a member of the House Game and Fisheries Committee. "I am proud to see this bill, which gained bipartisan support in the House and Senate, become law."The law reduces the length of terms of commissioners from eight years to four years, and limits service to no more than three consecutive four-year terms. Under the law, commissioners will be appointed and confirmed by the Senate, vacancies would still be filled for partial terms, but the law allows for only six months of additional service at the end of a term when a successor has not been appointed.Under the former law, the term of service is eight years for a PFBC commissioner and a member who fills a vacancy of less than four years is eligible for reappointment. Also, a member who serves a full eight-year term, or fills a vacancy for more than four years, is not eligible for reappointment for a period of eight years.**********An opportunity for families to get a behind-the-scenes look at the Pennsylvania Game Commission, and have a lot of fun while doing it will be presented Sunday during "Family Fun Day with the Pennsylvania Game Commission," an event to be held at PGC headquarters, 2001 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, from 1-4 p.m.Activities are planned include tours of the headquarters building at regular intervals, multiple showings of the PGC films on bald eagle and elk restoration, instructional sessions on outdoor photography, wildlife-habitat tours, archery demonstrations and laser-shooting games. There's no cost to attend the event, and free hot dogs and drinks will be provided while supplies last.Monday and Tuesday, the PGC board of game commissioners quarterly meeting will be held at the headquarters building. Doors open both days at 7:45 a.m.**********Preliminary rounds of the 10-day Pennsylvania Sportsmen's Association Pennsylvania State Shoot and Colonial Classic get underway, today at Valley Gun and Country Club, Elysburg. Concluding, Sunday, June 15, this is the largest state shoot in the country and is second only to the national championship in number of competitors.This year's event will offer more than $75,000 dollars in added money, trophies and prizes that include a K-80 Krieghoff shotgun during the Krieghoff Challenge, Friday, June 13. Last year the state shoot drew 1,238 participants for the 100 bird handicap event.**********Sunday's edition of "Experience The Outdoors," winner of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association's best outdoors radio program award hosted by award-winning POWA member Doyle Dietz, at 7 a.m. on 1410-AM WLSH, at 9:30 a.m. on Magic 105.5-FM and on the Web at

www.wmgh.com by clicking the link to the program, features Pennsylvania State Shoot spokesman Tom Austin.**********First Frontier Militia, the muzzleloader group associated with Bowmanstown Rod and Gun Club, Gun Club Road, located off Route 248, will hold a shoot Sunday, June 8, From 9 a.m.-4 p.m. For information call Ken Milburn at 610-767-6222 or Dave Algard at 610-760-8333.**********A 30-target, 3-D hunting course is open daily from dawn to dusk, except Sundays from 1-4 p.m. for trap, at Bear's Head Archery, located off Exit 134, I-81, Delano. For information call the club at 570-467-0331.