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Public Act 098-0118 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning wildlife.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The Wildlife Code is amended by changing Section | ||||
3.1-4 as follows: | ||||
(520 ILCS 5/3.1-4) | ||||
Sec. 3.1-4. Military members returning from mobilization | ||||
and service outside the United States. | ||||
(a) After returning from service abroad or mobilization by | ||||
the President of the United States as an active duty member of | ||||
the United States Armed Forces, the Illinois National Guard, or | ||||
the Reserves of the United States Armed Forces, an Illinois | ||||
resident may hunt any of the species protected by Section 2.2 | ||||
of this Code without paying any fees required to obtain a | ||||
hunting license for the time period prescribed by subsection | ||||
(b) of this Section if the Illinois resident applies for a | ||||
license within 2 years after returning from service abroad or | ||||
mobilization. The applicant shall provide acceptable | ||||
verification of service or mobilization to the Department | ||||
either at the Department's office in Springfield or at a | ||||
Regional Office of the Department. | ||||
(b) For each year that an applicant is an active duty | ||||
member pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section, the |
applicant shall receive one free hunting license, one free Deer | ||
Hunting Permit as provided in Section 2.26 of this Code and | ||
rules adopted pursuant to that Section, and one free State | ||
Habitat Stamp. For the purposes of this determination, if the | ||
period of active duty is a portion of a year (for example, one | ||
year and 3 months), the applicant will be credited with a full | ||
year for the portion of a year served. | ||
(c) (Blank).
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(c-5) An Illinois resident veteran may obtain an Illinois | ||
Hunter Education card if he or she completes the online study | ||
section of the Illinois Hunter Education program and provides | ||
the Department with acceptable verification of service or | ||
mobilization. | ||
(d) For the purposes of this Section, "acceptable | ||
verification of service or mobilization" means official | ||
documentation from the Department of Defense or the appropriate | ||
Major Command showing mobilization dates or service abroad | ||
dates, including: (i) a DD-214, (ii) a letter from the Illinois | ||
Department of Military Affairs for members of the Illinois | ||
National Guard, (iii) a letter from the Regional Reserve | ||
Command for members of the Armed Forces Reserve, (iv) a letter | ||
from the Major Command covering Illinois for active duty | ||
members, (v) personnel records for mobilized State employees, | ||
and (vi) any other documentation that the Department, by | ||
administrative rule, deems acceptable to establish dates of | ||
mobilization or service abroad. |
(e) For the purposes of this Section, the term "service | ||
abroad" means active duty service outside of the 50 United | ||
States and the District of Columbia, and includes all active | ||
duty service in territories and possessions of the United | ||
States. | ||
(Source: P.A. 96-1014, eff. 1-1-11.)
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
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