(a) Issuance.--Unless further provided by commission regulation, permits authorizing the holder to collect birds, their nests with eggs found therein and animals, protected by this title, for exhibition in public museums or for scientific study or school instruction may be issued to:

(1) Persons of known scientific attainment in either ornithology or mammalogy for scientific study, whether residents of this Commonwealth or not.

(2) Agents of public museums or institutions of learning for exhibition purposes, whether residents of this Commonwealth or not.

(b) Application and project outline.--Applicants for a collecting permit or a renewal of a collecting permit shall include an outline of the project they are working on or propose to begin. This outline shall include any benefits for game or wildlife or useable scientific information they expect to generate along with the minimum number of specimens of each species needed. The application and project outline shall be reviewed by the director who may approve, reject or modify the project.

(c) Permit conditions.--The permit shall list the number of specimens to be taken and specify the method of taking.

(d) Unlawful acts.--It is unlawful to:

(1) Take more than the number of specimens shown on the permit.

(2) Sell or offer for sale or barter any specimen obtained.

(3) Transfer control of any specimen to another person without first securing written permission from the director.

(4) Violate any other provisions of this section.

(e) Penalty.--Except for endangered or threatened species, a violation of this section is a summary offense of the fifth degree.