94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
HB1459

 

Introduced 02/10/05, by Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia - Donald L. Moffitt - Michael P. McAuliffe - Lisa M. Dugan - Jim Watson

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
515 ILCS 5/20-5   from Ch. 56, par. 20-5
520 ILCS 5/3.1-2   from Ch. 61, par. 3.1-2

    Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code and the Wildlife Code. Allows all veterans (now, only certain disabled veterans) to fish and hunt during times allowed without being required to have a license.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1     AN ACT concerning husbandry.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Fish and Aquatic Life Code is amended by
5 changing Section 20-5 as follows:
 
6     (515 ILCS 5/20-5)  (from Ch. 56, par. 20-5)
7     Sec. 20-5. Necessity of license; exemptions.
8     (a) Any person taking or attempting to take any fish,
9 including minnows for commercial purposes, turtles, mussels,
10 crayfish, or frogs by any means whatever in any waters or lands
11 wholly or in part within the jurisdiction of the State,
12 including that part of Lake Michigan under the jurisdiction of
13 this State, shall first obtain a license to do so, and shall do
14 so only during the respective periods of the year when it shall
15 be lawful as provided in this Code. Individuals under 16, blind
16 or disabled residents, or individuals fishing at fee fishing
17 areas licensed by the Department, however, may fish with sport
18 fishing devices without being required to have a license. For
19 the purpose of this Section an individual is blind or disabled
20 if that individual has a Class 2 disability as defined in
21 Section 4A of the Illinois Identification Card Act. For
22 purposes of this Section an Illinois Disabled Person
23 Identification Card issued under the Illinois Identification
24 Card Act indicating that the individual named on the card has a
25 Class 2 disability shall be adequate documentation of a
26 disability.
27     (b) A courtesy non-resident sport fishing license or stamp
28 may be issued at the discretion of the Director, without fee,
29 to (i) any individual officially employed in the wildlife and
30 fish or conservation department of another state or of the
31 United States who is within the State to assist or consult or
32 cooperate with the Director or (ii) the officials of other

 

 

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1 states, the United States, foreign countries, or officers or
2 representatives of conservation organizations or publications
3 while in the State as guests of the Governor or Director.
4     (c) The Director may issue special fishing permits without
5 cost to groups of hospital patients or handicapped individuals
6 for use on specified dates in connection with supervised
7 fishing for therapy.
8     (d) Veterans who, according to the determination of the
9 Veterans' Administration as certified by the Department of
10 Veterans' Affairs, are at least 10% disabled with
11 service-related disabilities or in receipt of total disability
12 pensions may fish with sport fishing devices during those
13 periods of the year it is lawful to do so without being
14 required to have a license, on the condition that any their
15 respective disabilities do not prevent them from fishing in a
16 manner which is safe to themselves and others.
17     (e) Each year the Director may designate a period, not to
18 exceed 4 days in duration, when sport fishermen may fish waters
19 wholly or in part within the jurisdiction of the State,
20 including that part of Lake Michigan under the jurisdiction of
21 the State, and not be required to obtain the license or stamp
22 required by subsection (a) of this Section, Section 20-10 or
23 subsection (a) of Section 20-55. The term of any such period
24 shall be established by administrative rule. This subsection
25 shall not apply to commercial fishing.
26     (f) The Director may issue special fishing permits without
27 cost for a group event, restricted to specific dates and
28 locations if it is determined by the Department that the event
29 is beneficial in promoting sport fishing in Illinois.
30 (Source: P.A. 89-66, eff. 1-1-96; 90-743, eff. 1-1-99.)
 
31     Section 10. The Wildlife Code is amended by changing
32 Section 3.1-2 as follows:
 
33     (520 ILCS 5/3.1-2)  (from Ch. 61, par. 3.1-2)
34     Sec. 3.1-2. Veterans who, according to the determination of

 

 

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1 the Veterans' Administration as certified by the Department of
2 Veterans' Affairs, are at least 10% disabled with
3 service-related disabilities or in receipt of total disability
4 pensions may hunt any of the species protected by Section 2.2,
5 during such times, with such devices and by such methods as are
6 permitted by this Act, without procuring hunting licenses, on
7 the condition that any their respective disabilities do not
8 prevent them from hunting in a manner which is safe to
9 themselves and others.
10 (Source: P.A. 83-58.)