(a) Issuance.--The commission may issue permits for the importation, exportation, sale, exchange, taking or possession of any birds or animals classified as endangered or threatened, living or dead, or any parts thereof, including eggs.

(b) Species native to Commonwealth.--The commission may issue permits for birds or animals native to this Commonwealth which are taken from the wild in this Commonwealth and which are classified by the commission as endangered or threatened in Title 58 of the Pennsylvania Code.

(c) Species not native to Commonwealth.--The commission may join with the appropriate Federal agency in issuing joint permits for any birds or animals not native to this Commonwealth which are classified as endangered or threatened in the Code of Federal Regulations. An endorsement by the director on a copy of a Federal permit with an addendum of any further restrictions will be considered a joint permit if no formal joint permit is issued.

(d) Unlawful acts.--It is unlawful for any person to import, export, transport, sell, resell, exchange, take or possess or conspire, aid, abet, assist or attempt to import, export, transport, sell, resell, buy, exchange, take or possess any birds or animals of any endangered or threatened species, living or dead, or any parts thereof, including eggs, or to violate any regulations pertaining to such wildlife or this section.

(e) Penalties.--

(1) A violation of subsection (b) or (c) relating to permit violations is a summary offense of the first degree.

(2) The penalty for a violation of any other provision of this section is the same as set forth in section 2167(b) and (c) (relating to endangered or threatened species).

(3) A person who proves possession of any of the items prohibited by this section on or before March 28, 1974, shall be exempt from the penalties and forfeitures for mere possession.