102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB2987

 

Introduced 1/5/2022, by Sen. Laura M. Murphy

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
5 ILCS 810/5
225 ILCS 735/2  from Ch. 111, par. 702
225 ILCS 735/3  from Ch. 111, par. 703
225 ILCS 735/4  from Ch. 111, par. 704
225 ILCS 735/5  from Ch. 111, par. 705
225 ILCS 735/7  from Ch. 111, par. 707
225 ILCS 735/8  from Ch. 111, par. 708
225 ILCS 735/9  from Ch. 111, par. 709
225 ILCS 735/9a  from Ch. 111, par. 709a
225 ILCS 735/9b new
225 ILCS 735/11  from Ch. 111, par. 711
225 ILCS 735/13  from Ch. 111, par. 713
225 ILCS 735/16  from Ch. 111, par. 716

    Amends the Timber Buyers Licensing Act. Provides that all timber buyers must possess a liability insurance policy in an appropriate amount pursuant to administrative rule prior to issuance of a timber buyers license and must keep the policy in force at all times while the license is in effect. Provides that every applicant for a timber buyers license shall submit, on a form provided by the Department of Natural Resources, a surety bond or letter of credit in a specified amount. Provides that all persons buying timber under the Act must possess a valid timber buyers license. Provides that when a timber buyer purchases timber in the State, the timber buyer shall submit a report to the Department of the purchase. Provides that the Department shall require timber growers who own 5 acres or more of timberland in any county to obtain a landowner timber number, or similar unique identifier from the Department, associated with their timberland before timber is cut for commercial purposes. Provides that landowner timber numbers will be dated and expire after 2 years unless extended by the Department by rule. Makes changes to provisions concerning definitions; application for licensure; bond; prohibited acts; license, issuance, validity, and certificate; application; records; penalties; license revocation; and seizure. Adds provisions concerning reporting a harvest fee. Amends the Seizure and Forfeiture Reporting Act. Provides that the Act applies to property seized or forfeited under the seizure provision of the Timber Buyers Licensing Act.


LRB102 22945 SPS 32099 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB2987LRB102 22945 SPS 32099 b

1    AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Seizure and Forfeiture Reporting Act is
5amended by changing Section 5 as follows:
 
6    (5 ILCS 810/5)
7    Sec. 5. Applicability. This Act is applicable to property
8seized or forfeited under the following provisions of law:
9        (1) Section 3.23 of the Illinois Food, Drug and
10    Cosmetic Act;
11        (2) Section 44.1 of the Environmental Protection Act;
12        (3) Section 105-55 of the Herptiles-Herps Act;
13        (4) Section 1-215 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code;
14        (5) Section 1.25 of the Wildlife Code;
15        (6) Section 17-10.6 of the Criminal Code of 2012
16    (financial institution fraud);
17        (7) Section 28-5 of the Criminal Code of 2012
18    (gambling);
19        (8) Article 29B of the Criminal Code of 2012 (money
20    laundering);
21        (9) Article 33G of the Criminal Code of 2012 (Illinois
22    Street Gang and Racketeer Influenced And Corrupt
23    Organizations Law);

 

 

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1        (10) Article 36 of the Criminal Code of 2012 (seizure
2    and forfeiture of vessels, vehicles, and aircraft);
3        (11) Section 47-15 of the Criminal Code of 2012
4    (dumping garbage upon real property);
5        (12) Article 124B of the Code of Criminal Procedure of
6    1963 (forfeiture);
7        (13) the Drug Asset Forfeiture Procedure Act;
8        (14) the Narcotics Profit Forfeiture Act;
9        (15) the Illinois Streetgang Terrorism Omnibus
10    Prevention Act; and
11        (16) the Illinois Securities Law of 1953.
12        (17) Section 16 of the Timber Buyers Licensing Act.
13(Source: P.A. 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)
 
14    Section 10. The Timber Buyers Licensing Act is amended by
15changing Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 9a, 11, 13, and 16 and
16by adding Section 9b as follows:
 
17    (225 ILCS 735/2)  (from Ch. 111, par. 702)
18    Sec. 2. When used in this Act, unless the context
19otherwise requires, the term:
20    "Buying timber" means to buy, barter, cut on shares, or
21offer to buy, barter, cut on shares, or take possession of
22timber, with or without the consent of the timber grower.
23    "Department" means the Department of Natural Resources.
24    "Director" means the Director of Natural Resources.

 

 

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1    "Landowner timber number" means a unique number issued by
2the Department to identify a forest area that may be harvested
3and the timber grower's information.
4    "Liability insurance" means insurance against the
5liability of the insured for the death, injury, or disability
6of an employee or other person, and insurance against the
7liability of the insured for damage to or destruction of
8another person's property.
9    "Payment receipt" means a copy, duplicate, or facsimile of
10an original receipt of payment for timber to a timber grower or
11duplicate of electronic or direct payment verification of
12funds received by a timber grower.
13    "Person" means any person, partnership, firm, association,
14business trust or corporation.
15    "Personal use" means use of timber or timber products by
16the timber grower other than for resale or other commercial
17use.
18    "Timber" means trees, standing or felled, and parts
19thereof which can be used for sawing or processing into lumber
20for building or structural purposes or for the manufacture of
21any article. "Timber" does not include firewood, Christmas
22trees, fruit or ornamental trees or wood products not used or
23to be used for building, structural, manufacturing or
24processing purposes.
25    "Timber buyer" means any person licensed or unlicensed,
26who is engaged in the business of buying timber from the timber

 

 

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1growers thereof for sawing into lumber, for processing or for
2resale, but excludes timber for personal use does not include
3any person who occasionally purchases timber for sawing or
4processing for his own use and not for resale.
5    "Buying timber" means to buy, barter, cut on shares, or
6offer to buy, barter, cut on shares, or take possession of
7timber, with or without the consent of the timber grower.
8    "Timber grower" means the owner, tenant or operator of
9land in this State who has an interest in, or is entitled to
10receive any part of the proceeds from the sale of timber grown
11in this State and includes persons exercising authority to
12sell timber.
13    "Department" means the Department of Natural Resources.
14    "Director" means the Director of Natural Resources.
15    "Employee" means any person in service or under contract
16for hire, expressed or implied, oral or written, who is
17engaged in any phase of the enterprise or business at any time
18during the license year.
19(Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)
 
20    (225 ILCS 735/3)  (from Ch. 111, par. 703)
21    Sec. 3. Application for licensure. Every person before
22engaging in the business of timber buyer shall obtain a
23license for such purpose from the Department. Application for
24such license shall be filed with the Department and shall set
25forth the name of the applicant, its principal officers if the

 

 

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1applicant is a corporation or the partners if the applicant is
2a partnership, the location of any principal office or place
3of business of the applicant, the counties in this State in
4which the applicant proposes to engage in the business of
5timber buyer and such additional information as the Department
6by regulation may require.
7    All timber buyers must possess a liability insurance
8policy in an appropriate amount pursuant to administrative
9rule prior to the issuance of a timber buyers license and must
10keep the policy in force at all times while the license is in
11effect.
12    The application shall set forth the aggregate dollar
13amount paid to timber growers for timber purchased in this
14State during the applicant's last completed 12-month period
15fiscal or calendar year. In the event the applicant has been
16engaged as a timber buyer for less than one year, his
17application shall set forth the dollar amount paid to timber
18growers for the number of completed months during which the
19applicant has been so engaged. If the applicant has not been
20previously engaged in buying timber in this State, the
21application shall set forth the estimated aggregate dollar
22amount to be paid by the applicant to timber growers for timber
23to be purchased from them during the next succeeding 12 month
24period.
25(Source: P.A. 77-2796.)
 

 

 

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1    (225 ILCS 735/4)  (from Ch. 111, par. 704)
2    Sec. 4. Bond.
3    (a) Every applicant for a timber buyers license shall
4submit, on a form provided by the Department, a surety bond or
5letter of credit in an amount as outlined in this Section or a
6letter of credit in the same amount for work performed in
7accordance with this Act and the rules adopted under this Act.
8The surety bond or letter of credit is to secure payment to the
9timber growers and to insure the timber grower against all
10fraudulent or negligent acts of the licensee for actions under
11this Act as well as for payment to the Department for any
12moneys due under this Act. Unless otherwise required under
13this Act, the surety bond or letter of credit is required to be
14valid for the calendar year of the buyers license plus 60 days.
15person licensed as a timber buyer shall file with the
16Department, on a form prescribed and furnished by the
17Department, a performance bond payable to the State of
18Illinois by and through the Department and conditioned on the
19faithful performance of and compliance with all requirements
20of the license and this Act. The bond shall be a surety bond or
21letter of credit signed by the person to be licensed as
22principal and by a good and sufficient corporate surety
23authorized to engage in the business of executing surety bonds
24or letters of credit within the State of Illinois as surety
25thereon. In lieu of a surety bond an applicant for a timber
26buyers license may, with the approval of the Department,

 

 

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1deposit with the Department as security a certificate of
2deposit or irrevocable letter of credit of any bank organized
3or transacting business in the United States in an amount
4equal to or greater than the amount of the required bond. Such
5deposits shall be made, held, and disposed of as provided in
6this Act and by the Department by rule. A bond or certificate
7of deposit shall be made payable upon demand to the Director,
8subject to the provisions of this Act, and any rules adopted
9under this Act, and shall be for the use and benefit of the
10people of the State of Illinois, for the use and benefit of any
11timber grower from whom the timber buyer applicant purchased
12timber and who is not paid by the timber buyer, applicant or
13for the use and benefit of any timber grower whose timber has
14been cut by the timber buyer applicant or licensee or his or
15her agents and who has not been paid therefor; and for the use
16and benefit of any person aggrieved by the actions of the
17timber buyer, including the Department.
18    (b) Except as otherwise provided, in this Section, such
19surety bond or letter of credit shall be 10% of the dollar
20amount in the principal amount of $500 for an applicant who
21paid to timber growers for timber purchased during the
22preceding year, but shall at no time be less than $5,000 or
23exceed $150,000 or less for timber during the immediate
24preceding year, and an additional $100 for each additional
25$1,000 or fraction thereof paid to timber growers for timber
26purchased during the preceding year, but shall not be more

 

 

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1than $10,000. In the case of an applicant not previously
2engaged in business as a timber buyer, the amount of such
3surety bond or letter of credit shall be 10% of based on the
4estimated dollar amount to be paid by such timber buyer to
5timber growers for timber purchased during the next succeeding
6year, as set forth in the application. The surety ; such bond or
7letter of credit shall, in no event, be in the principal amount
8of less than $5,000 or exceed $150,000 $500. In the case of a
9timber buyer whose surety bond or letter of credit has
10previously been forfeited in Illinois or in any other state,
11the Department shall double the applicable minimum bond
12amounts under this Section.
13    (c) A surety bond or letter of credit filed in accordance
14with this Act shall not be cancelled or altered during the
15period for which the timber buyer remains licensed by the
16Department except upon at least 60 days written notice in
17writing to the Department and then only upon written approval
18of the Department ; in the event that the applicant has
19deposited certificates of deposit in lieu of a corporate
20surety the Department may retain possession of such
21certificates of deposit for a period of 60 days following the
22expiration or revocation of his or her license.
23    (d) At any such time as a licensee, without written
24approval of the Department, fails to have the necessary surety
25bond or letter of credit bonds, certificates of deposit, or
26irrevocable letters of credit on deposit with the Department

 

 

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1in an amount equal or greater than 10% of a timber buyer's
2current total amount paid to timber growers as required by
3this Section, the Department shall notify the licensee by mail
4of the failure and the licensee shall have 30 days from the
5date that the notice is sent to bring the surety bond or letter
6of credit to the level required by this Act. If the licensee,
7after receiving notice, fails to bring the surety bond or
8letter of credit to the level required by this Act, the
9Department shall suspend the license of the licensee and shall
10not issue a new license to the licensee for a period of 2 years
11as required herein, the Department may immediately, and
12without notice, suspend the privileges of such licensee. In
13the event of such suspension, the Department shall give
14immediate notice of the same to the licensee and shall further
15reinstate such license upon the posting of the required surety
16bond, certificates of deposit, or irrevocable letters of
17credit.
18    (e) A surety bond or letter of credit that is posted after
19a license has been suspended for failure to maintain the
20required level of surety bond or letter of credit pursuant to
21subsection (d) shall remain in effect for one year from the
22date of the posting of the bond or letter of credit. A failure
23to maintain a surety bond or letter of credit as required by
24this subsection shall result in the Department suspending any
25active license of the licensee, and the Department shall not
26issue a new license to the licensee for a period of 5 years

 

 

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1from the date the Department is made aware of a violation of
2this subsection.
3    (f) The timber grower or owner of timber cut may commence
4his or her own action for forfeiture of the licensee's surety
5bond or letter of credit in the circuit court where the cutting
6occurred.
7    (g) The Department may commence an action for forfeiture
8of the licensee's surety bond in the circuit court of Sangamon
9County.
10    Bonds shall be in such form and contain such terms and
11conditions as may be approved from time to time by the
12Director, be conditioned to secure an honest cutting and
13accounting for timber purchased by the licensee, secure
14payment to the timber growers and to insure the timber growers
15against all fraudulent acts of the licensee in the purchase
16and cutting of the timber of this State.
17    In the event the timber buyer fails to pay when owing any
18amount due a timber grower for timber purchased, or fails to
19pay judicially determined damages for timber wrongfully cut by
20a timber buyer or his agent, whether such wrongful cutting has
21occurred on or adjacent to the land which was the subject of
22timber purchase from a timber grower, or commits any violation
23of this Act, then an action on the bond or deposit for
24forfeiture may be commenced. Such action is not exclusive and
25is in addition to any other judicial remedies available.
26    In the event that the timber grower or owner of timber cut

 

 

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1considers himself or herself aggrieved by a timber buyer, he
2or she shall notify the Department in writing of such
3grievance and thereafter the Department shall within 10 days
4give written notice to the timber buyer of the alleged
5violation of this Act or of any violation or noncompliance
6with the regulations hereunder of which the timber grower or
7owner of timber complains. The written notice to the timber
8buyer shall be from the Department by registered or certified
9mail to the licensee and his or her sureties stating in general
10terms the nature of the violation and that an action seeking
11forfeiture of the bond may be commenced at any time after the
1210 days from the date of said notice if at the end of that
13period the violation still remains. In the event the
14Department shall fail to give notice to the timber buyer as
15provided herein, the timber grower or owner of timber cut may
16commence his or her own action for forfeiture of the
17licensee's bond.
18    The timber buyer, after receiving notice from the
19Department as provided herein, may within 10 days from the
20date of such notice, request in writing to appear and be heard
21regarding the alleged violation.
22    Upon such request from the timber buyer, the Department
23shall schedule a hearing, designating the time and place
24thereof. At such hearing the timber buyer may present for
25consideration of the Department any evidence, statements,
26documents or other information relevant to the alleged

 

 

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1violation. The hearing shall be presided over by the Director
2or by any hearing officer he or she may designate. The hearing
3officer shall take evidence offered by the timber buyer or the
4Department and shall, if requested by the Department, submit
5his or her conclusions and findings which shall be advisory to
6the Director. Any hearings provided for in this Section shall
7be commenced within 30 days from the request therefor.
8    Should the timber buyer fail to make timely request for a
9hearing after receipt of the notice from the Department as
10provided herein, or after a hearing is concluded, the
11Department may either withdraw the notice of violation or
12request the Attorney General to institute proceedings to have
13the bond of the timber buyer forfeited. The Attorney General,
14upon such request from the Department, shall institute
15proceedings to have the bond of the timber buyer forfeited for
16violation of any of the provisions of this Act or for
17noncompliance with any Department regulation.
18    (h) In the event that the licensee's surety bond or letter
19of credit is forfeited, the proceeds thereof shall first be
20applied to any sums determined to be owed to the timber grower
21or owner of timber cut and then to any sums owed to the
22Department to defray expenses incurred by the Department in
23converting the security into money. Thereafter, the Department
24shall pay such excess to the timber buyer who furnished such
25security.
26    In the event the Department realizes less than the amount

 

 

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1of liability from the security, after deducting expenses
2incurred by the Department in converting the security into
3money, it shall be grounds for the revocation of the timber
4buyer's license.
5    (i) If the surety bond or letter of credit does not cover
6the amount that is owed to the Department, the Department
7shall immediately suspend the licensee and shall not issue a
8new license to the licensee for a period of 5 years.
9(Source: P.A. 92-805, eff. 8-21-02.)
 
10    (225 ILCS 735/5)  (from Ch. 111, par. 705)
11    Sec. 5. Prohibited acts. It shall be unlawful and a
12violation of this Act:
13    (a) (blank); For any timber buyer to knowingly and
14willfully fail to pay, as agreed, for any timber purchased,
15    (b) for For any timber buyer to knowingly and willfully
16cut or cause to be cut or take appropriate any timber without
17the consent of the timber grower; ,
18    (c) for For a timber buyer to knowingly and willfully make
19any false statement in connection with the application, surety
20bond or letter of credit, liability insurance, or other
21information required to be given to the Department ; or a
22timber grower,
23    (d) to knowingly and willfully providing false information
24to To fail to honestly account to the timber grower or the
25Department for timber purchased or cut; if the buyer is under a

 

 

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1duty to do so,
2    (d-5) to knowingly and willfully buy timber from a timber
3grower not possessing a landowner timber number issued by the
4Department;
5    (e) (blank); For a timber buyer to commit any fraudulent
6act in connection with the purchase or cutting of timber,
7    (f) (blank): For a timber buyer or land owner or operator
8to fail to file the report or pay the fees required in Section
99a of this Act, and
10    (g) for For any person to resist or obstruct any officer,
11employee, or agent of the Department or any member of a law
12enforcement agency in the discharge of that person's his
13duties under the provisions of this Act; hereof.
14    (h) for any person to fail to maintain valid liability
15insurance in an amount required by this Act at any time during
16a period in which they hold a timber buyers license; and
17    (i) for any person to fail to allow inspection of required
18records by an authorized employee of the Department or by an
19authorized State or federal law enforcement officer during
20reasonable business hours.
21(Source: P.A. 86-208.)
 
22    (225 ILCS 735/7)  (from Ch. 111, par. 707)
23    Sec. 7. License; issuance, validity, and renewal;
24certificate. All persons buying timber under this Act must
25possess a valid timber buyers license. Licenses authorized

 

 

SB2987- 15 -LRB102 22945 SPS 32099 b

1under this Act shall be prepared by the Department and be in a
2form as prescribed by the Department. The information required
3on each license shall be completed by the issuing agent at the
4time of issuance and each license shall be signed by the
5licensee. All licenses shall be supplied by the Department,
6subject to rules as the Department may prescribe. Any license
7that is not properly prepared, obtained, and signed as
8required by this Act shall be void.
9    If the Department is satisfied that the timber buyer
10applicant has fulfilled the requirements set forth in the
11timber buyer's application and if the bond and sureties or
12bank certificate of deposit filed by the applicant is
13approved, the Department may issue a license to the applicant.
14The licenses issued shall be valid for a calendar year and may
15be renewed annually. A copy of the license certificate issued
16by the Department shall be posted in the principal office of
17the licensee in this State. The timber buyer identification
18card issued by the Department shall be carried upon the person
19of the timber buyer when conducting activities covered under
20this Act for immediate presentation for inspection to the
21officers and authorized employees of the Department, any
22sheriff, deputy sheriff, or any other peace officer making
23demand for it. No person charged with violating this Section,
24however, shall be convicted if he or she produces in court
25satisfactory evidence that a timber buyer identification card
26that was valid at the time of the offense had been issued to

 

 

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1the timber buyer.
2    Upon request for a license and payment of the fee, the
3Department shall issue to the timber buyer licensee a
4certificate that a license has been granted and a bond filed as
5required by this Act.
6(Source: P.A. 92-805, eff. 8-21-02.)
 
7    (225 ILCS 735/8)  (from Ch. 111, par. 708)
8    Sec. 8. Application. The application for a license for an
9Illinois resident or company to operate as an Illinois a
10timber buyer, or a renewal thereof, shall be accompanied by a
11filing fee of $230 $25. The application for a license for an
12out-of-state individual or company to operate as an Illinois
13timber buyer shall be accompanied by a filing fee of $480. The
14fee to be paid for a certificate that a license has been issued
15and security filed is $20 $5.
16    The fees required by this Section shall be deposited in
17the Illinois Forestry Development Fund for the purposes of the
18"Illinois Forestry Development Act".
19(Source: P.A. 85-287.)
 
20    (225 ILCS 735/9)  (from Ch. 111, par. 709)
21    Sec. 9. Records. The Department may inspect the premises
22used by any timber buyer in the conduct of his or her business
23at any reasonable time and the books, accounts, records, and
24papers of every such timber buyer shall at all times during

 

 

SB2987- 17 -LRB102 22945 SPS 32099 b

1business hours be subject to inspection by the Department. Any
2person licensed as a timber buyer as defined in this Act, or
3any person who has purchased, bartered, or attempted to
4purchase or barter timber, or any person having possession or
5who has had possession of timber as defined in this Act shall
6prima facie be considered a timber buyer. A timber buyer shall
7retain the books, accounts, records, and papers used in the
8conduct of his or her business, or other documentation
9required under this Act, for a period of 7 3 years after any
10purchase of timber made by the timber buyer.
11(Source: P.A. 85-287.)
 
12    (225 ILCS 735/9a)  (from Ch. 111, par. 709a)
13    Sec. 9a. Reporting a harvest fee.
14    (a) When a timber buyer purchases timber in this State,
15the timber buyer and timber grower shall determine the amount
16to be paid for such timber, or the value of items to be
17bartered for such timber, and the timber buyer shall deduct
18from the payment to the timber grower an amount which equals 4%
19of the purchase price or 4% of the minimum fair market value
20when the purchase price cannot otherwise be determined
21pursuant to administrative rule and shall forward such amount
22to the Department of Natural Resources, along with a report of
23the purchase on forms provided by the Department.
24    (b) When a timber buyer purchases timber in this State,
25the timber buyer shall submit a report to the Department of the

 

 

SB2987- 18 -LRB102 22945 SPS 32099 b

1purchase on a report form provided by the Department. The
2information provided on the report form shall include the
3amount paid for the timber and the 4% that is due to the
4Department. A timber buyer shall provide the timber grower
5with a written or electronic payment receipt for each
6transaction of timber purchased from the timber grower and
7keep a duplicate or copy of payment receipt in his or her
8records. The timber buyer shall provide a written receipt upon
9request of the Department.
10    (c) Every timber grower who utilizes timber produced on
11land he owns or operates for sawing into lumber, for
12processing, or for resale, except a person who occasionally
13uses his own timber for sawing or processing for his own use
14and not for resale, shall report periodically, as required by
15regulation of the Department, the quantity of timber produced
16and utilized by the owner or operator during the reporting
17period. Such timber grower shall pay to the Department, when
18the periodic report is submitted, an amount equal to 4% of the
19minimum fair market gross value of the timber utilized during
20the period. The value of such timber shall be determined
21pursuant to rule of the Department. Such rules shall include a
22voluntary arbitration program for use in situations in which a
23dispute arises as to the gross value of the timber.
24    (d) Every timber grower who utilizes timber produced on
25land he or she owns or operates for sawing into lumber, for
26processing, or for resale shall report periodically, as

 

 

SB2987- 19 -LRB102 22945 SPS 32099 b

1required by rule of the Department, the quantity of timber
2produced and utilized by the owner or operator during the
3reporting period.
4    (e) Subsections (c) and (d) shall not apply to a person who
5uses his or her own timber for sawing or processing for
6personal use and not for resale.
7    (f) It shall be a violation of this Act for a timber buyer
8to knowingly and willfully:
9        (1) fail to file the report with the Department as
10    required under subsection (a) or (c) of this Section; or
11        (2) fail to pay to the Department the timber grower's
12    fees required under subsection (b) or (d) of this Section.
13    (g) The fees required by this Section shall be deposited
14in the Illinois Forestry Development Fund, a special fund in
15the State Treasury, for the purposes of the "Illinois Forestry
16Development Act".
17(Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)
 
18    (225 ILCS 735/9b new)
19    Sec. 9b. Landowner timber number. The Department, in order
20to monitor and conserve Illinois forests, shall require timber
21growers who own 5 acres or more of timberland in any county to
22obtain a landowner timber number, or similar unique identifier
23from the Department, associated with their timberland in that
24county before timber is cut for commercial purposes. Landowner
25timber numbers shall be issued to timber growers at no cost to

 

 

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1timber growers. Issuance of landowner timber numbers may be
2accompanied by information and resources about forests,
3forestry, and timber harvesting.
4    Timber buyers shall enter the landowner timber number on
5each applicable reporting form when submitting the 4% fee.
6Landowner timber numbers shall be dated and expire after 2
7years, unless extended by the Department by rule.
 
8    (225 ILCS 735/11)  (from Ch. 111, par. 711)
9    Sec. 11. Penalties.
10    (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Act Section any
11person in violation of any of the provisions of this Act, or
12administrative rules thereunder, shall be guilty of a Class C
13A misdemeanor.
14    (a-5) Any person convicted of violating Section 3 of this
15Act shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and fined at least
16$500 for a first offense and guilty of a Class 4 felony and
17fined at least $1,000 for a second or subsequent offense.
18    (a-10) Any person convicted of violating subsection (b) of
19Section 5 of this Act is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor if the
20aggregate value of the timber cut, caused to be cut, or
21appropriated is equal to or less than $500.
22    (b) Any person convicted of violating subsection
23subsections (a) or (b) of Section 5 of this Act is guilty of a
24Class 4 felony if the aggregate value of the timber purchased,
25cut, caused to be cut or appropriated is over $500 $300 but not

 

 

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1more than $2,500.
2    (b-5) Any person convicted of violating subsection (a) or
3(b) of Section 5 of this Act is guilty of a Class 3 felony if
4the aggregate value of the timber purchased, cut, caused to be
5cut, or appropriated is over $2,500 but not more than $10,000.
6    (b-10) Any person convicted of violating subsection (a) or
7(b) of Section 5 of this Act is guilty of a Class 2 felony if
8the aggregate value of the timber purchased, cut, caused to be
9cut, or appropriated is over $10,000.
10    (b-15) The aggregate value of the timber purchased, cut,
11caused to be cut, or appropriated shall be determined as
12provided by administrative rule.
13    (c) A person convicted of violating subsection (c) (f) of
14Section 5 of this Act is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. A
15person convicted of a second or subsequent violation is guilty
16of a Class 4 felony.
17    (c-5) A person convicted of violating subsection (d) of
18Section 5 of this Act is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
19    (c-10) A person convicted of violating subsection (d-5) of
20Section 5 of this Act is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and
21shall be assessed a fine of not less than $1,000. A person
22convicted of a second or subsequent violation is guilty of a
23Class 4 felony and shall be assessed a fine of not less than
24$2,000.
25    (c-15) A person convicted of violating subsection (g) of
26Section 5 of this Act is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

 

 

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1    (c-20) A person convicted of violating subsection (h) of
2Section 5 of this Act is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
3    (c-25) A person convicted of violating subsection (i) of
4Section 5 of this Act is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.
5    (d) All amounts collected as fines imposed as penalties
6for violation of this Act shall be deposited in the Illinois
7Forestry Development Fund for the purposes of the "Illinois
8Forestry Development Act".
9    (e) Failure In case of a failure to pay any purchase
10harvest fee required under Section 9a of this Act on the date
11as required by regulation of the Department, there shall be
12added as a penalty an amount equal to 7.5% of the harvest fee
13due the Department for each month or fraction thereof during
14which such failure continues, not to exceed 37.5% in the
15aggregate. This penalty shall be in addition to any other
16penalty determined under this Act or by the circuit court.
17    (e-5) Any person convicted of violating subsection (a) or
18(c) of Section 9a of this Act is guilty of a Class A
19misdemeanor if the aggregate value of the timber cut, caused
20to be cut, or sold is equal to or less than $500.
21    (e-10) Any person convicted of violating subsection (a) or
22(c) of Section 9a of this Act is guilty of a Class 4 felony if
23the aggregate value of the timber cut, caused to be cut, or
24sold is over $500 but not more than $2,500.
25    (e-15) Any person convicted of violating subsection (a) or
26(c) of Section 9a of this Act is guilty of a Class 3 felony if

 

 

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1the aggregate value of the timber cut, caused to be cut, or
2sold is over $2,500 but not more than $10,000.
3    (e-20) Any person convicted of violating subsection (a) or
4(c) of Section 9a of this Act is guilty of a Class 2 felony if
5the aggregate value of the timber cut, caused to be cut, or
6appropriated is over $10,000.
7    (f) A person convicted of violating subsection (b) or (d)
8of In case of failure to file the appropriate report of the
9purchase harvest fee form stipulated under Section 9a of this
10Act shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor and shall be
11assessed on the date prescribed therefore, a penalty in the
12amount of $25 for each individual report shall be added to the
13amount due the Department.
14    (g) All fines required by this Section This penalty shall
15be in addition to any other penalty authorized determined
16under this Act or the Unified Code of Corrections or imposed by
17the circuit court.
18(Source: P.A. 92-805, eff. 8-21-02.)
 
19    (225 ILCS 735/13)  (from Ch. 111, par. 713)
20    Sec. 13. License revocation.
21    (a) Unless otherwise specified in this Act, the The
22Department may revoke the license of any person who violates
23the provisions of this Act or administrative rules, and may
24refuse to issue any permit or license to such person for a
25period not to exceed 5 years following such revocation.

 

 

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1    License revocation or suspension or refusal to issue any
2permit or license under this Act procedures shall be
3established by administrative rule.
4    (b) Whenever the holder of a license issued under this Act
5is found guilty of any misrepresentation in obtaining his or
6her license or of a violation of any of the provisions of this
7Act or rules adopted pursuant to this Act, the Department may:
8        (1) revoke his or her license;
9        (2) refuse to issue a license to that person; and
10        (3) suspend the person from engaging in the activity
11    requiring the license for up to 5 years following the
12    revocation.
13    (c) Whenever the holder of a license issued under this Act
14is found guilty of any misrepresentation in obtaining his or
15her license or of a violation of any of the provisions of this
16Act or rules adopted pursuant to this Act, and his or her
17license has been previously revoked or his or her ability to
18engage in the activity requiring the license has been
19previously suspended, the Department may:
20        (1) revoke his or her license;
21        (2) refuse to issue any license to that person; and
22        (3) suspend the person from engaging in the activity
23    requiring the license for at least 5 years but not more
24    than 10 years following the revocation or suspension.
25    (d) Whenever the holder of a license issued under this Act
26is found guilty of any misrepresentation in obtaining that

 

 

SB2987- 25 -LRB102 22945 SPS 32099 b

1license or of a violation of any of the provisions of this Act
2or rules adopted under this Act, and his or her license has
3been previously revoked or his or her ability to engage in the
4activity requiring the license has been suspended on 2 or more
5occasions, the Department may:
6        (1) revoke his or her license;
7        (2) refuse to issue any license to that person; and
8        (3) suspend the person from engaging in the activity
9    requiring the license for at least 10 years but not more
10    than 20 75 years following the revocation or suspension.
11    Department revocation procedures shall be established by
12    administrative rule.
13    If the holder of a license is found negligent with respect
14to any duty required under this Act, the Department may
15suspend or revoke his or her privilege to engage in the
16activity for which the license is required, his or her
17license, or both.
18    (e) Whenever a person who has not been issued a license
19under this Act is found guilty of a violation of the provisions
20of this Act or rules adopted under this Act, the Department
21may:
22        (1) refuse to issue any license to that person; and
23        (2) suspend that person from engaging in the activity
24    requiring the license for up to 5 years following the
25    revocation.
26    (f) Whenever a person who has not been issued a license

 

 

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1under this Act is found guilty of a violation of this Act or
2rules adopted under this Act and his or her license has been
3previously revoked or his or her ability to engage in the
4activity requiring the license has been previously suspended,
5the Department may:
6        (1) refuse to issue any license to that person; and
7        (2) suspend that person from engaging in the activity
8    requiring the license for at least 5 years but not more
9    than 10 years following the revocation or suspension.
10    (g) Whenever a person who has not been issued a license
11under this Act is found guilty of a violation of this Act or
12rules adopted under this Act and his or her license has been
13previously revoked or his or her ability to engage in the
14activity requiring the license has been suspended on 2 or more
15occasions, the Department may:
16        (1) refuse to issue any license to that person; and
17        (2) suspend that person from engaging in the activity
18    requiring the license for at least 10 years but not more
19    than 20 75 years following the revocation or suspension.
20    (h) (Blank). Licenses authorized under this Act shall be
21prepared by the Department and be in such form as prescribed by
22the Department. The information required on each license shall
23be completed thereon by the issuing agent at the time of
24issuance and each license shall be signed by the licensee. All
25such licenses shall be supplied by the Department, subject to
26such rules as the Department may prescribe. Any license that

 

 

SB2987- 27 -LRB102 22945 SPS 32099 b

1is not properly prepared, obtained, and signed as required by
2this Act shall be void.
3    (i) Any person whose license to engage in an activity
4regulated by this Act has been revoked or whose ability to
5engage in the activity requiring the license has been
6suspended may not, during the period of suspension or
7revocation:
8        (1) hold any license authorized by this Act;
9        (2) perform directly or indirectly any privileges
10    authorized by any license issued in accordance with this
11    Act; or
12        (3) buy, sell, barter, trade, or take possession of
13    any timber as defined in this Act, regardless of any
14    contractual agreements entered into prior to the
15    revocation or suspension.
16    (j) No person may be issued a license or engage in any
17activity regulated by this Act for which a license is required
18during the time that the person's privilege to engage in the
19same or similar activities is suspended or revoked by another
20state, by a federal agency, or by a province of Canada.
21    Any person who knowingly or intentionally violates any of
22the provisions of this Act, or administrative rules
23thereunder, when his or her license has been revoked or denied
24or his or her ability to engage in the activity requiring the
25license has been suspended under this Section, is guilty of a
26Class 4 felony.

 

 

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1(Source: P.A. 92-805, eff. 8-21-02.)
 
2    (225 ILCS 735/16)  (from Ch. 111, par. 716)
3    Sec. 16. Seizure. Any timber, forestry or wood cutting
4device or equipment, including vehicles and conveyances used
5or operated in violation of this Act, including administrative
6rules, or attempted to be used in violation of this Act or
7administrative rules shall be deemed a public nuisance and
8subject to the seizure and confiscation by any authorized
9employee of the Department; upon the seizure of such item the
10Department shall take and hold the same until disposed of as
11hereinafter provided.
12    Upon the seizure of any property as herein provided, the
13authorized employee of the Department making such seizure
14shall forthwith cause a complaint to be filed before the
15Circuit Court and a summons to be issued requiring the person
16who illegally used or operated or attempted to use or operate
17such property and the owner and person in possession of such
18property to appear in court and show cause why the property
19seized should not be forfeited to the State. Upon the return of
20the summons duly served or other notice as herein provided,
21the court shall proceed to determine the question of the
22illegality of the use of the seized property and upon judgment
23being entered to the effect that such property was illegally
24used, an order may be entered providing for the forfeiture of
25such seized property to the Department and shall thereupon

 

 

SB2987- 29 -LRB102 22945 SPS 32099 b

1become the property of the Department; but the owner of such
2property may have a jury determine the illegality of its use,
3and shall have the right of an appeal, as in other cases. Such
4confiscation or forfeiture shall not preclude or mitigate
5against prosecution and assessment of penalties otherwise
6provided in this Act.
7    Upon seizure of any property under circumstances
8supporting a reasonable belief that such property was
9abandoned, lost or stolen or otherwise illegally possessed or
10used contrary to the provisions of this Act, except property
11seized during a search or arrest, and ultimately returned,
12destroyed, or otherwise disposed of pursuant to order of a
13court in accordance with this Act, the authorized employee of
14the Department shall make reasonable inquiry and efforts to
15identify and notify the owner or other person entitled to
16possession thereof, and shall return the property after such
17person provides reasonable and satisfactory proof of his
18ownership or right to possession and reimburses the Department
19for all reasonable expenses of such custody. If the identity
20or location of the owner or other person entitled to
21possession of the property has not been ascertained within 6
22months after the Department obtains such possession, the
23Department shall effectuate the sale of the property for cash
24to the highest bidder at a public auction. The owner or other
25person entitled to possession of such property may claim and
26recover possession of the property at any time before its sale

 

 

SB2987- 30 -LRB102 22945 SPS 32099 b

1at public auction, upon providing reasonable and satisfactory
2proof of ownership or right of possession and reimbursing the
3Department for all reasonable expenses of custody thereof.
4    Any property forfeited to the State by court order
5pursuant to this Section may be disposed of by public auction,
6except that any property which is the subject of such a court
7order shall not be disposed of pending appeal of the order. The
8proceeds of the sales at auction shall be deposited in the
9Illinois Forestry Development Fund.
10    The Department shall pay all costs of notices required by
11this Section.
12    Property seized or forfeited under this Section is subject
13to reporting under the Seizure and Forfeiture Reporting Act.
14(Source: P.A. 86-208.)