103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB2900

 

Introduced 1/26/2024, by Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
515 ILCS 5/20-45  from Ch. 56, par. 20-45
520 ILCS 5/3.2  from Ch. 61, par. 3.2

    Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code. Provides that, for a resident who is serving in the Illinois National Guard, the 1-year fishing license fees are one-half of the ordinarily applicable 1-year fishing license fees beginning in license year 2025. Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that, for a resident who is serving in the Illinois National Guard, the 1-year hunting license fees are one-half of the ordinarily applicable 1-year hunting license fees beginning in license year 2025. Effective immediately.


LRB103 36558 JAG 66665 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB2900LRB103 36558 JAG 66665 b

1    AN ACT concerning wildlife.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Fish and Aquatic Life Code is amended by
5changing Section 20-45 as follows:
 
6    (515 ILCS 5/20-45)  (from Ch. 56, par. 20-45)
7    Sec. 20-45. License fees for residents. Fees for licenses
8for residents of the State of Illinois shall be as follows:
9        (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, for
10    sport fishing devices as defined in Section 10-95 or
11    spearing devices as defined in Section 10-110, the fee is
12    $14.50 for individuals 16 to 64 years old, one-half of the
13    current fishing license fee for individuals age 65 or
14    older, and, commencing with the 2012 license year,
15    one-half of the current fishing license fee for resident
16    veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning
17    from service abroad or mobilization by the President of
18    the United States as an active duty member of the United
19    States Armed Forces, the Illinois National Guard, or the
20    Reserves of the United States Armed Forces, and,
21    commencing, with the 2025 license year, one-half of the
22    current fishing license fee for residents serving in the
23    Illinois National Guard. Residents serving in the Illinois

 

 

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1    National Guard and veterans Veterans must provide to the
2    Department acceptable verification of their service. The
3    Department shall establish by administrative rule the
4    procedure by which such verification of service shall be
5    made to the Department for the purpose of issuing fishing
6    licenses to resident veterans at a reduced fee.
7        (a-3) Except as otherwise provided in this Section,
8    for sport fishing devices as defined in Section 10-95 or
9    spearing devices as defined in Section 10-110, residents
10    of this State may obtain a 3-year fishing license. The fee
11    for a 3-year fishing license is 3 times the annual fee. For
12    residents age 65 or older, the fee is one half of the fee
13    charged for a 3-year fishing license. For resident
14    veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning
15    from service abroad or mobilization by the President of
16    the United States, the fee is one-half of the fee charged
17    for a 3-year fishing license. Veterans must provide to the
18    Department, per administrative rule, verification of their
19    service. The Department shall establish what constitutes
20    suitable verification of service for the purpose of
21    issuing 3-year fishing licenses to resident veterans at a
22    reduced fee.
23        (a-5) The fee for all sport fishing licenses shall be
24    $1 for an annual license and 3 times the annual fee for a
25    3-year license for residents over 75 years of age.
26        (b) All residents before using any commercial fishing

 

 

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1    device shall obtain a commercial fishing license, the fee
2    for which shall be $60 and a resident fishing license, the
3    fee for which is $14.50. Each and every commercial device
4    used shall be licensed by a resident commercial fisherman
5    as follows:
6            (1) For each 100 lineal yards, or fraction
7        thereof, of seine the fee is $18. For each minnow
8        seine, minnow trap, or net for commercial purposes the
9        fee is $20.
10            (2) For each device to fish with a 100 hook trot
11        line device, basket trap, hoop net, or dip net the fee
12        is $3.
13            (3) When used in the waters of Lake Michigan, for
14        the first 2000 lineal feet, or fraction thereof, of
15        gill net the fee is $10; and for each 1000 additional
16        lineal feet, or fraction thereof, the fee is $10.
17        These fees shall apply to all gill nets in use in the
18        water or on drying reels on the shore.
19            (4) For each 100 lineal yards, or fraction
20        thereof, of gill net or trammel net the fee is $18.
21        (c) Residents of this State may obtain a sportsmen's
22    combination license that shall entitle the holder to the
23    same non-commercial fishing privileges as residents
24    holding a license as described in subsection (a) of this
25    Section and to the same hunting privileges as residents
26    holding a license to hunt all species as described in

 

 

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1    Section 3.1 of the Wildlife Code. No sportsmen's
2    combination license shall be issued to any individual who
3    would be ineligible for either the fishing or hunting
4    license separately. The sportsmen's combination license
5    fee shall be $25.50. For residents age 65 or older, the fee
6    is one-half of the fee charged for a sportsmen's
7    combination license. For resident veterans of the United
8    States Armed Forces after returning from service abroad or
9    mobilization by the President of the United States as an
10    active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, the
11    Illinois National Guard, or the Reserves of the United
12    States Armed Forces, the fee, commencing with the 2012
13    license year, is one-half of the fee charged for a
14    sportsmen's combination license. Veterans must provide to
15    the Department acceptable verification of their service.
16    The Department shall establish by administrative rule the
17    procedure by which such verification of service shall be
18    made to the Department for the purpose of issuing
19    sportsmen's combination licenses to resident veterans at a
20    reduced fee.
21        (c-5) Residents of this State may obtain a 3-year
22    sportsmen's combination license that shall entitle the
23    holder to the same non-commercial fishing privileges as
24    residents holding a license as described in subsection
25    (a-3) and to the same hunting privileges as residents
26    holding a license to hunt all species as described in

 

 

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1    Section 3.1 of the Wildlife Code. A 3-year sportsmen's
2    combination license shall not be issued to any individual
3    who would be ineligible for either the fishing or hunting
4    license separately. The 3-year sportsmen's combination
5    license fee shall be 3 times the annual fee. For residents
6    age 65 or older, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for
7    a 3-year sportsmen's combination license. For resident
8    veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning
9    from service abroad or mobilization by the President of
10    the United States, the fee is one-half of the fee charged
11    for a 3-year sportsmen's combination license. Veterans
12    must provide to the Department, per administrative rule,
13    verification of their service. The Department shall
14    establish what constitutes suitable verification of
15    service for the purpose of issuing 3-year sportsmen's
16    combination licenses to resident veterans at a reduced
17    fee.
18        (d) For 24 hours of fishing by sport fishing devices
19    as defined in Section 10-95 or by spearing devices as
20    defined in Section 10-110 the fee is $5. This license does
21    not exempt the licensee from the requirement for a salmon
22    or inland trout stamp. The licenses provided for by this
23    subsection are not required for residents of the State of
24    Illinois who have obtained the license provided for in
25    subsection (a) or (a-3) of this Section.
26        (e) All residents before using any commercial mussel

 

 

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1    device shall obtain a commercial mussel license, the fee
2    for which shall be $50.
3        (f) Residents of this State, upon establishing
4    residency as required by the Department, may obtain a
5    lifetime hunting or fishing license or lifetime
6    sportsmen's combination license which shall entitle the
7    holder to the same non-commercial fishing privileges as
8    residents holding a license as described in paragraph (a)
9    of this Section and to the same hunting privileges as
10    residents holding a license to hunt all species as
11    described in Section 3.1 of the Wildlife Code. No lifetime
12    sportsmen's combination license shall be issued to or
13    retained by any individual who would be ineligible for
14    either the fishing or hunting license separately, either
15    upon issuance, or in any year a violation would subject an
16    individual to have either or both fishing or hunting
17    privileges rescinded. The lifetime hunting and fishing
18    license fees shall be as follows:
19            (1) Lifetime fishing: 30 x the current fishing
20        license fee.
21            (2) Lifetime hunting: 30 x the current hunting
22        license fee.
23            (3) Lifetime sportsmen's combination license: 30 x
24        the current sportsmen's combination license fee.
25    Lifetime licenses shall not be refundable. A $10 fee shall
26be charged for reissuing any lifetime license. The Department

 

 

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1may establish rules and regulations for the issuance and use
2of lifetime licenses and may suspend or revoke any lifetime
3license issued under this Section for violations of those
4rules or regulations or other provisions under this Code or
5the Wildlife Code, or a violation of the United States Code
6that involves the taking, possessing, killing, harvesting,
7transportation, selling, exporting, or importing any fish or
8aquatic life protected by this Code or the taking, possessing,
9killing, harvesting, transportation, selling, exporting, or
10importing any fauna protected by the Wildlife Code when any
11part of the United States Code violation occurred in Illinois.
12Individuals under 16 years of age who possess a lifetime
13hunting or sportsmen's combination license shall have in their
14possession, while in the field, a certificate of competency as
15required under Section 3.2 of the Wildlife Code. Any lifetime
16license issued under this Section shall not exempt individuals
17from obtaining additional stamps or permits required under the
18provisions of this Code or the Wildlife Code. Individuals
19required to purchase additional stamps shall sign the stamps
20and have them in their possession while fishing or hunting
21with a lifetime license. All fees received from the issuance
22of lifetime licenses shall be deposited in the Fish and
23Wildlife Endowment Fund.
24    Except for licenses issued under subsection (e) of this
25Section, all licenses provided for in this Section shall
26expire on March 31 of each year, except that the license

 

 

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1provided for in subsection (d) of this Section shall expire 24
2hours after the effective date and time listed on the face of
3the license. Licenses issued under subsection (a-3) or (c-5)
4shall expire on March 31 of the 2nd year after the year in
5which the license is issued.
6    The Department shall by administrative rule provide for
7the automatic renewal of a fishing license upon the request of
8the applicant.
9    All individuals required to have and failing to have the
10license provided for in subsection (a), (a-3), or (d) of this
11Section shall be fined according to the provisions of Section
1220-35 of this Code.
13    All individuals required to have and failing to have the
14licenses provided for in subsections (b) and (e) of this
15Section shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
16    (g) For the purposes of this Section, "acceptable
17verification" means, for veterans, official documentation from
18the Department of Defense or the appropriate Major Command
19showing mobilization dates or service abroad dates, including:
20(i) a DD-214, (ii) a letter from the Illinois Department of
21Military Affairs for members of the Illinois National Guard,
22(iii) a letter from the Regional Reserve Command for members
23of the Armed Forces Reserve, (iv) a letter from the Major
24Command covering Illinois for active duty members, (v)
25personnel records for mobilized State employees, and (vi) any
26other documentation that the Department, by administrative

 

 

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1rule, deems acceptable to establish dates of mobilization or
2service abroad. For residents serving in the Illinois National
3Guard, "acceptable verification" means any documentation that
4the Department, by administrative rule, deems acceptable to
5establish that the resident is serving in the Illinois
6National Guard.
7    For the purposes of this Section, the term "service
8abroad" means active duty service outside of the 50 United
9States and the District of Columbia, and includes all active
10duty service in territories and possessions of the United
11States.
12(Source: P.A. 102-780, eff. 5-13-22; 102-837, eff. 5-13-22;
13103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-456, eff. 1-1-24.)
 
14    Section 10. The Wildlife Code is amended by changing
15Section 3.2 as follows:
 
16    (520 ILCS 5/3.2)  (from Ch. 61, par. 3.2)
17    Sec. 3.2. Hunting license; application; instruction.
18Before the Department or any county, city, village, township,
19incorporated town clerk or his duly designated agent or any
20other person authorized or designated by the Department to
21issue hunting licenses shall issue a hunting license to any
22person, the person shall file his application with the
23Department or other party authorized to issue licenses on a
24form provided by the Department and further give definite

 

 

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1proof of identity and place of legal residence. Each clerk
2designating agents to issue licenses and stamps shall furnish
3the Department, within 10 days following the appointment, the
4names and mailing addresses of the agents. Each clerk or his
5duly designated agent shall be authorized to sell licenses and
6stamps only within the territorial area for which he was
7elected or appointed. No duly designated agent is authorized
8to furnish licenses or stamps for issuance by any other
9business establishment. Each application shall be executed and
10sworn to and shall set forth the name and description of the
11applicant and place of residence.
12    No hunting license shall be issued to any person born on or
13after January 1, 1980 unless he presents the person authorized
14to issue the license evidence that he has held a hunting
15license issued by the State of Illinois or another state in a
16prior year, or a certificate of competency as provided in this
17Section. Persons under 18 years of age may be issued a Lifetime
18Hunting or Sportsmen's Combination License as provided under
19Section 20-45 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code but shall not
20be entitled to hunt alone, without the supervision of an adult
21age 21 or older, unless they have a certificate of competency
22as provided in this Section and the certificate is in their
23possession while hunting.
24    The Department of Natural Resources shall authorize
25personnel of the Department or certified volunteer instructors
26to conduct courses, of not less than 10 hours in length, in

 

 

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1firearms and hunter safety, which may include training in bow
2and arrow safety, at regularly specified intervals throughout
3the State. Persons successfully completing the course shall
4receive a certificate of competency. The Department of Natural
5Resources may further cooperate with any reputable association
6or organization in establishing courses if the organization
7has as one of its objectives the promotion of safety in the
8handling of firearms or bow and arrow.
9    The Department of Natural Resources shall designate any
10person found by it to be competent to give instruction in the
11handling of firearms, hunter safety, and bow and arrow. The
12persons so appointed shall give the course of instruction and
13upon the successful completion shall issue to the person
14instructed a certificate of competency in the safe handling of
15firearms, hunter safety, and bow and arrow. No charge shall be
16made for any course of instruction except for materials or
17ammunition consumed. The Department of Natural Resources shall
18furnish information on the requirements of hunter safety
19education programs to be distributed free of charge to
20applicants for hunting licenses by the persons appointed and
21authorized to issue licenses. Funds for the conducting of
22firearms and hunter safety courses shall be taken from the fee
23charged for the Firearm Owners Identification Card.
24    The fee for a hunting license to hunt all species for a
25resident of Illinois is $12. For residents age 65 or older,
26and, commencing with the 2012 license year, resident veterans

 

 

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1of the United States Armed Forces after returning from service
2abroad or mobilization by the President of the United States
3as an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, the
4Illinois National Guard, or the Reserves of the United States
5Armed Forces, and, commencing with the 2025 license year,
6resident veterans serving in the Illinois National Guard, the
7fee is one-half of the fee charged for a hunting license to
8hunt all species for a resident of Illinois. Residents serving
9in the Illinois National Guard and veterans Veterans must
10provide to the Department acceptable verification of their
11service. The Department shall establish by administrative rule
12the procedure by which such verification of service shall be
13made to the Department for the purpose of issuing resident
14veterans hunting licenses at a reduced fee. The fee for a
15hunting license to hunt all species shall be $1 for residents
16over 75 years of age. Nonresidents shall be charged $57 for a
17hunting license.
18    Residents of this State may obtain a 3-year hunting
19license to hunt all species as described in Section 3.1 for 3
20times the annual fee. For residents age 65 or older and
21resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces after
22returning from service abroad or mobilization by the President
23of the United States, the fee is one-half of the fee charged
24for a 3-year hunting license to hunt all species as described
25in Section 3.1 for a resident of this State. Veterans must
26provide to the Department, per administrative rule,

 

 

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1verification of their service. The Department shall establish
2what constitutes suitable verification of service for the
3purpose of issuing resident veterans 3-year hunting licenses
4at a reduced fee.
5    Nonresidents may be issued a nonresident hunting license
6for a period not to exceed 10 consecutive days' hunting in the
7State and shall be charged a fee of $35.
8    A special nonresident hunting license authorizing a
9nonresident to take game birds by hunting on a game breeding
10and hunting preserve area only, established under Section
113.27, shall be issued upon proper application being made and
12payment of a fee equal to that for a resident hunting license.
13The expiration date of this license shall be on the same date
14each year that game breeding and hunting preserve area
15licenses expire.
16    Each applicant for a State Migratory Waterfowl Stamp,
17regardless of his residence or other condition, shall pay a
18fee of $15 and shall receive a stamp. The fee for a State
19Migratory Waterfowl Stamp shall be waived for residents over
2075 years of age. Except as provided under Section 20-45 of the
21Fish and Aquatic Life Code, the stamp shall be signed by the
22person or affixed to his license or permit in a space
23designated by the Department for that purpose.
24    Each applicant for a State Habitat Stamp, regardless of
25his residence or other condition, shall pay a fee of $5 and
26shall receive a stamp. The fee for a State Habitat Stamp shall

 

 

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1be waived for residents over 75 years of age. Except as
2provided under Section 20-45 of the Fish and Aquatic Life
3Code, the stamp shall be signed by the person or affixed to his
4license or permit in a space designated by the Department for
5that purpose.
6    Nothing in this Section shall be construed as to require
7the purchase of more than one State Habitat Stamp by any person
8in any one license year.
9    The fees for State Pheasant Stamps and State Furbearer
10Stamps shall be waived for residents over 75 years of age.
11    The Department shall furnish the holders of hunting
12licenses and stamps with an insignia as evidence of possession
13of license, or license and stamp, as the Department may
14consider advisable. The insignia shall be exhibited and used
15as the Department may order.
16    All other hunting licenses and all State stamps shall
17expire upon March 31 of each year. Three-year hunting licenses
18shall expire on March 31 of the 2nd year after the year in
19which the license is issued.
20    Every person holding any license, permit, or stamp issued
21under the provisions of this Act shall have it in his
22possession for immediate presentation for inspection to the
23officers and authorized employees of the Department, any
24sheriff, deputy sheriff, or any other peace officer making a
25demand for it. This provision shall not apply to Department
26owned or managed sites where it is required that all hunters

 

 

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1deposit their license, permit, or Firearm Owner's
2Identification Card at the check station upon entering the
3hunting areas.
4    For the purposes of this Section, "acceptable
5verification" means, for veterans, official documentation from
6the Department of Defense or the appropriate Major Command
7showing mobilization dates or service abroad dates, including:
8(i) a DD-214, (ii) a letter from the Illinois Department of
9Military Affairs for members of the Illinois National Guard,
10(iii) a letter from the Regional Reserve Command for members
11of the Armed Forces Reserve, (iv) a letter from the Major
12Command covering Illinois for active duty members, (v)
13personnel records for mobilized State employees, and (vi) any
14other documentation that the Department, by administrative
15rule, deems acceptable to establish dates of mobilization or
16service abroad. For residents serving in the Illinois National
17Guard, "acceptable verification" means any documentation that
18the Department, by administrative rule, deems acceptable to
19establish that the resident is serving in the Illinois
20National Guard.
21    For the purposes of this Section, the term "service
22abroad" means active duty service outside of the 50 United
23States and the District of Columbia, and includes all active
24duty service in territories and possessions of the United
25States.
26(Source: P.A. 102-780, eff. 5-13-22; 103-456, eff. 1-1-24.)
 

 

 

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1    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
2becoming law.