Sportsmen will not have to supply their Social Security numbers in order to obtain future hunting and fishing licenses under a new law supported by Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint).

"This is an important step that will help protect our sportsmen from identity theft," Causer said. "Identity thieves are getting more and more creative in their methods for stealing people's money and destroying their credit - the last thing we want to do is make it easier for them."

Pennsylvania had been collecting Social Security numbers on various state forms, including hunting and fishing license applications, because of a federal welfare reform law that was aimed at identifying parents who were not living up to their child support obligations.

The new legislation, signed into law by the governor Thursday, allows sportsmen to instead supply their driver's license number, or a non-driver identification number supplied by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, on such applications.

"This law should keep us in compliance with federal welfare laws but without putting the identities of our sportsmen and women at risk," Causer said.

A companion bill that authorizes PennDOT to provide non-driver identification cards to children age 10 and older was also signed into law. That will ensure young people, who are unlikely to have any child support obligations, aren't forced to list highly sensitive information like their Social Security numbers.

Causer said people applying for driver licenses or for non-driver photo identification will still have to provide their Social Security numbers.