103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB3677

 

Introduced 2/17/2023, by Rep. Harry Benton

 

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 residents of this State may obtain a 5-year fishing license. Provides that the fee for a 5-year fishing license is $62.50. Provides that for residents age 65 or older, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a 5-year fishing license. Provides that for resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning from service abroad or mobilization by the President of the United States, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a 5-year fishing license. Provides that residents of this State may obtain a 5-year sportsmen's combination license that shall entitle the holder to the same non-commercial fishing privileges as residents holding a license and to the same hunting privileges as residents holding a license to hunt all species under the Wildlife Code. Provides that the 5-year sportsmen's combination license fee shall be $112.50. Provides that a sportsmen's combination license shall not be issued to any individual who would be ineligible for either the fishing or hunting license separately. Provides that for residents age 65 or older, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a 5-year sportsmen's combination license. Provides that for resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning from service abroad or mobilization by the President of the United States, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a 5-year sportsmen's combination license. Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that residents of this State may obtain a 5-year hunting license to hunt all species for $52. Provides that for residents age 65 or older and resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning from service abroad or mobilization by the President of the United States, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a 5-year hunting license.


LRB103 28194 RLC 54573 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB3677LRB103 28194 RLC 54573 b

1    AN ACT concerning fishing and hunting.
 
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. Veterans must
21    provide to the Department acceptable verification of their
22    service. The Department shall establish by administrative
23    rule the procedure by which such verification of service

 

 

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1    shall be made to the Department for the purpose of issuing
2    fishing licenses to resident veterans at a reduced fee.
3        (a-3) Except as otherwise provided in this Section,
4    for sport fishing devices as defined in Section 10-95 or
5    spearing devices as defined in Section 10-110, residents
6    of this State may obtain a 5-year fishing license. The fee
7    for a 5-year fishing license is $62.50. For residents age
8    65 or older, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a
9    5-year fishing license. For resident veterans of the
10    United States Armed Forces after returning from service
11    abroad or mobilization by the President of the United
12    States, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a 5-year
13    fishing license. Veterans must provide to the Department,
14    at one of the Department's 5 regional offices,
15    verification of their service. The Department shall
16    establish what constitutes suitable verification of
17    service for the purpose of issuing 5-year fishing licenses
18    to resident veterans at a reduced fee.
19        (a-5) The fee for all sport fishing licenses shall be
20    $1 for an annual license and $4 for a 5-year license for
21    residents over 75 years of age.
22        (b) All residents before using any commercial fishing
23    device shall obtain a commercial fishing license, the fee
24    for which shall be $60 and a resident fishing license, the
25    fee for which is $14.50. Each and every commercial device
26    used shall be licensed by a resident commercial fisherman

 

 

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1    as follows:
2            (1) For each 100 lineal yards, or fraction
3        thereof, of seine the fee is $18. For each minnow
4        seine, minnow trap, or net for commercial purposes the
5        fee is $20.
6            (2) For each device to fish with a 100 hook trot
7        line device, basket trap, hoop net, or dip net the fee
8        is $3.
9            (3) When used in the waters of Lake Michigan, for
10        the first 2000 lineal feet, or fraction thereof, of
11        gill net the fee is $10; and for each 1000 additional
12        lineal feet, or fraction thereof, the fee is $10.
13        These fees shall apply to all gill nets in use in the
14        water or on drying reels on the shore.
15            (4) For each 100 lineal yards, or fraction
16        thereof, of gill net or trammel net the fee is $18.
17        (c) Residents of this the State of Illinois may obtain
18    a sportsmen's combination license that shall entitle the
19    holder to the same non-commercial fishing privileges as
20    residents holding a license as described in subsection (a)
21    of this Section and to the same hunting privileges as
22    residents holding a license to hunt all species as
23    described in Section 3.1 of the Wildlife Code. No
24    sportsmen's combination license shall be issued to any
25    individual who would be ineligible for either the fishing
26    or hunting license separately. The sportsmen's combination

 

 

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1    license fee shall be $25.50. For residents age 65 or
2    older, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a
3    sportsmen's combination license. For resident veterans of
4    the United States Armed Forces after returning from
5    service abroad or mobilization by the President of the
6    United States as an active duty member of the United
7    States Armed Forces, the Illinois National Guard, or the
8    Reserves of the United States Armed Forces, the fee,
9    commencing with the 2012 license year, is one-half of the
10    fee charged for a sportsmen's combination license.
11    Veterans must provide to the Department acceptable
12    verification of their service. The Department shall
13    establish by administrative rule the procedure by which
14    such verification of service shall be made to the
15    Department for the purpose of issuing sportsmen's
16    combination licenses to resident veterans at a reduced
17    fee.
18        (c-5) Residents of this State may obtain a 5-year
19    sportsmen's combination license that shall entitle the
20    holder to the same non-commercial fishing privileges as
21    residents holding a license as described in subsection
22    (a-3) and to the same hunting privileges as residents
23    holding a license to hunt all species as described in
24    Section 3.1 of the Wildlife Code. A 5-year sportsmen's
25    combination license shall not be issued to any individual
26    who would be ineligible for either the fishing or hunting

 

 

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1    license separately. The 5-year sportsmen's combination
2    license fee shall be $112.50. For residents age 65 or
3    older, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a 5-year
4    sportsmen's combination license. For resident veterans of
5    the United States Armed Forces after returning from
6    service abroad or mobilization by the President of the
7    United States, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a
8    5-year sportsmen's combination license. Veterans must
9    provide to the Department, at one of the Department's 5
10    regional offices, verification of their service. The
11    Department shall establish what constitutes suitable
12    verification of service for the purpose of issuing 5-year
13    sportsmen's combination licenses to resident veterans at a
14    reduced fee.
15        (d) For 24 hours of fishing by sport fishing devices
16    as defined in Section 10-95 or by spearing devices as
17    defined in Section 10-110 the fee is $5. This license does
18    not exempt the licensee from the requirement for a salmon
19    or inland trout stamp. The licenses provided for by this
20    subsection are not required for residents of the State of
21    Illinois who have obtained the license provided for in
22    subsection (a) or (a-3) of this Section.
23        (e) All residents before using any commercial mussel
24    device shall obtain a commercial mussel license, the fee
25    for which shall be $50.
26        (f) Residents of this State, upon establishing

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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1(c-5) shall expire on March 31 of the 4th year after the year
2in which the license is issued.
3    All individuals required to have and failing to have the
4license provided for in subsection (a), (a-3), or (d) of this
5Section shall be fined according to the provisions of Section
620-35 of this Code.
7    All individuals required to have and failing to have the
8licenses provided for in subsections (b) and (e) of this
9Section shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
10    (g) For the purposes of this Section, "acceptable
11verification" means official documentation from the Department
12of Defense or the appropriate Major Command showing
13mobilization dates or service abroad dates, including: (i) a
14DD-214, (ii) a letter from the Illinois Department of Military
15Affairs for members of the Illinois National Guard, (iii) a
16letter from the Regional Reserve Command for members of the
17Armed Forces Reserve, (iv) a letter from the Major Command
18covering Illinois for active duty members, (v) personnel
19records for mobilized State employees, and (vi) any other
20documentation that the Department, by administrative rule,
21deems acceptable to establish dates of mobilization or service
22abroad.
23    For the purposes of this Section, the term "service
24abroad" means active duty service outside of the 50 United
25States and the District of Columbia, and includes all active
26duty service in territories and possessions of the United

 

 

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1States.
2(Source: P.A. 102-780, eff. 5-13-22; 102-837, eff. 5-13-22;
3revised 7-26-22.)
 
4    Section 10. The Wildlife Code is amended by changing
5Section 3.2 as follows:
 
6    (520 ILCS 5/3.2)  (from Ch. 61, par. 3.2)
7    Sec. 3.2. Hunting license; application; instruction.
8Before the Department or any county, city, village, township,
9incorporated town clerk or his duly designated agent or any
10other person authorized or designated by the Department to
11issue hunting licenses shall issue a hunting license to any
12person, the person shall file his application with the
13Department or other party authorized to issue licenses on a
14form provided by the Department and further give definite
15proof of identity and place of legal residence. Each clerk
16designating agents to issue licenses and stamps shall furnish
17the Department, within 10 days following the appointment, the
18names and mailing addresses of the agents. Each clerk or his
19duly designated agent shall be authorized to sell licenses and
20stamps only within the territorial area for which he was
21elected or appointed. No duly designated agent is authorized
22to furnish licenses or stamps for issuance by any other
23business establishment. Each application shall be executed and
24sworn to and shall set forth the name and description of the

 

 

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1applicant and place of residence.
2    No hunting license shall be issued to any person born on or
3after January 1, 1980 unless he presents the person authorized
4to issue the license evidence that he has held a hunting
5license issued by the State of Illinois or another state in a
6prior year, or a certificate of competency as provided in this
7Section. Persons under 18 years of age may be issued a Lifetime
8Hunting or Sportsmen's Combination License as provided under
9Section 20-45 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code but shall not
10be entitled to hunt alone, without the supervision of an adult
11age 21 or older, unless they have a certificate of competency
12as provided in this Section and the certificate is in their
13possession while hunting.
14    The Department of Natural Resources shall authorize
15personnel of the Department or certified volunteer instructors
16to conduct courses, of not less than 10 hours in length, in
17firearms and hunter safety, which may include training in bow
18and arrow safety, at regularly specified intervals throughout
19the State. Persons successfully completing the course shall
20receive a certificate of competency. The Department of Natural
21Resources may further cooperate with any reputable association
22or organization in establishing courses if the organization
23has as one of its objectives the promotion of safety in the
24handling of firearms or bow and arrow.
25    The Department of Natural Resources shall designate any
26person found by it to be competent to give instruction in the

 

 

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1handling of firearms, hunter safety, and bow and arrow. The
2persons so appointed shall give the course of instruction and
3upon the successful completion shall issue to the person
4instructed a certificate of competency in the safe handling of
5firearms, hunter safety, and bow and arrow. No charge shall be
6made for any course of instruction except for materials or
7ammunition consumed. The Department of Natural Resources shall
8furnish information on the requirements of hunter safety
9education programs to be distributed free of charge to
10applicants for hunting licenses by the persons appointed and
11authorized to issue licenses. Funds for the conducting of
12firearms and hunter safety courses shall be taken from the fee
13charged for the Firearm Owners Identification Card.
14    The fee for a hunting license to hunt all species for a
15resident of Illinois is $12. For residents age 65 or older,
16and, commencing with the 2012 license year, resident veterans
17of the United States Armed Forces after returning from service
18abroad or mobilization by the President of the United States
19as an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, the
20Illinois National Guard, or the Reserves of the United States
21Armed Forces, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a
22hunting license to hunt all species for a resident of
23Illinois. Veterans must provide to the Department acceptable
24verification of their service. The Department shall establish
25by administrative rule the procedure by which such
26verification of service shall be made to the Department for

 

 

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1the purpose of issuing resident veterans hunting licenses at a
2reduced fee. The fee for a hunting license to hunt all species
3shall be $1 for residents over 75 years of age. Nonresidents
4shall be charged $57 for a hunting license.
5    Residents of this State may obtain a 5-year hunting
6license to hunt all species for $52. For residents age 65 or
7older and resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces
8after returning from service abroad or mobilization by the
9President of the United States, the fee is one-half of the fee
10charged for a 5-year hunting license to hunt all species for a
11resident of this State. Veterans must provide to the
12Department, at one of the Department's 5 regional offices,
13verification of their service. The Department shall establish
14what constitutes suitable verification of service for the
15purpose of issuing resident veterans 5-year hunting licenses
16at a reduced fee.
17    Nonresidents may be issued a nonresident hunting license
18for a period not to exceed 10 consecutive days' hunting in the
19State and shall be charged a fee of $35.
20    A special nonresident hunting license authorizing a
21nonresident to take game birds by hunting on a game breeding
22and hunting preserve area only, established under Section
233.27, shall be issued upon proper application being made and
24payment of a fee equal to that for a resident hunting license.
25The expiration date of this license shall be on the same date
26each year that game breeding and hunting preserve area

 

 

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1licenses expire.
2    Each applicant for a State Migratory Waterfowl Stamp,
3regardless of his residence or other condition, shall pay a
4fee of $15 and shall receive a stamp. The fee for a State
5Migratory Waterfowl Stamp shall be waived for residents over
675 years of age. Except as provided under Section 20-45 of the
7Fish and Aquatic Life Code, the stamp shall be signed by the
8person or affixed to his license or permit in a space
9designated by the Department for that purpose.
10    Each applicant for a State Habitat Stamp, regardless of
11his residence or other condition, shall pay a fee of $5 and
12shall receive a stamp. The fee for a State Habitat Stamp shall
13be waived for residents over 75 years of age. Except as
14provided under Section 20-45 of the Fish and Aquatic Life
15Code, the stamp shall be signed by the person or affixed to his
16license or permit in a space designated by the Department for
17that purpose.
18    Nothing in this Section shall be construed as to require
19the purchase of more than one State Habitat Stamp by any person
20in any one license year.
21    The fees for State Pheasant Stamps and State Furbearer
22Stamps shall be waived for residents over 75 years of age.
23    The Department shall furnish the holders of hunting
24licenses and stamps with an insignia as evidence of possession
25of license, or license and stamp, as the Department may
26consider advisable. The insignia shall be exhibited and used

 

 

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1as the Department may order.
2    All other hunting licenses and all State stamps shall
3expire upon March 31 of each year. Five-year hunting licenses
4shall expire on March 31 of the 4th year after the year in
5which the license is issued.
6    Every person holding any license, permit, or stamp issued
7under the provisions of this Act shall have it in his
8possession for immediate presentation for inspection to the
9officers and authorized employees of the Department, any
10sheriff, deputy sheriff, or any other peace officer making a
11demand for it. This provision shall not apply to Department
12owned or managed sites where it is required that all hunters
13deposit their license, permit, or Firearm Owner's
14Identification Card at the check station upon entering the
15hunting areas.
16    For the purposes of this Section, "acceptable
17verification" means official documentation from the Department
18of Defense or the appropriate Major Command showing
19mobilization dates or service abroad dates, including: (i) a
20DD-214, (ii) a letter from the Illinois Department of Military
21Affairs for members of the Illinois National Guard, (iii) a
22letter from the Regional Reserve Command for members of the
23Armed Forces Reserve, (iv) a letter from the Major Command
24covering Illinois for active duty members, (v) personnel
25records for mobilized State employees, and (vi) any other
26documentation that the Department, by administrative rule,

 

 

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1deems acceptable to establish dates of mobilization or service
2abroad.
3    For the purposes of this Section, the term "service
4abroad" means active duty service outside of the 50 United
5States and the District of Columbia, and includes all active
6duty service in territories and possessions of the United
7States.
8(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 102-780, eff. 5-13-22.)