102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB3154

 

Introduced 1/12/2022, by Sen. Neil Anderson

 

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 and the Wildlife Code. Provides that the current fees for a fishing license, sportsmen's combination license, and hunting license are annual fees. Allows a resident to obtain a 3-year fishing license (for a fee of $45), sportsmen's combination license (for a fee of $78.75), or hunting license (for a fee of $37.50). Provides that there is no fee for an annual or 3-year fishing license, sportsmen's combination license, or hunting license for a resident Gold Star Family member. Effective immediately.


LRB102 23355 NLB 32523 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB3154LRB102 23355 NLB 32523 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 annual
12    fee is $14.50 for individuals 16 to 64 years old.
13    Residents of the State of Illinois may obtain a 3-year
14    fishing license, and except as otherwise provided in this
15    Section, for sport fishing devices as defined in Section
16    10-95 or spearing devices as defined in Section 10-110,
17    the fee for a 3-year fishing license is $45. For , one-half
18    of the current fishing license fee for individuals age 65
19    or older, and, commencing with the 2012 license year,
20    one-half of the current fishing license fee for resident
21    veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning
22    from service abroad or mobilization by the President of
23    the United States, fees shall be one-half of the current

 

 

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1    fishing license fee. Veterans must provide, to the
2    Department at one of the Department's 5 regional offices,
3    verification of their service. The Department shall
4    establish what constitutes suitable verification of
5    service for the purpose of issuing fishing licenses to
6    resident veterans at a reduced fee.
7        (a-5) The fee for all sport fishing licenses shall be
8    $1 for residents over 75 years of age.
9        (a-6) There shall be no fee for an annual or 3-year
10    fishing license for resident Gold Star Family members. A
11    Gold Star Family member includes an immediate relative of
12    a United States Armed Forces member who died in battle or
13    in support of certain military activities, including a
14    parent, child, brother, sister, or other loved one. Gold
15    Star Family members must provide verification to the
16    Department at one of the Department's 5 regional offices.
17    The Department shall establish who qualifies for Gold Star
18    Family member status and what constitutes suitable
19    verification.
20        (b) All residents before using any commercial fishing
21    device shall obtain a commercial fishing license, the fee
22    for which shall be $60 and a resident fishing license, the
23    fee for which is $14.50. Each and every commercial device
24    used shall be licensed by a resident commercial fisherman
25    as follows:
26            (1) For each 100 lineal yards, or fraction

 

 

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1        thereof, of seine the fee is $18. For each minnow
2        seine, minnow trap, or net for commercial purposes the
3        fee is $20.
4            (2) For each device to fish with a 100 hook trot
5        line device, basket trap, hoop net, or dip net the fee
6        is $3.
7            (3) When used in the waters of Lake Michigan, for
8        the first 2000 lineal feet, or fraction thereof, of
9        gill net the fee is $10; and for each 1000 additional
10        lineal feet, or fraction thereof, the fee is $10.
11        These fees shall apply to all gill nets in use in the
12        water or on drying reels on the shore.
13            (4) For each 100 lineal yards, or fraction
14        thereof, of gill net or trammel net the fee is $18.
15        (c) Residents of the State of Illinois may obtain an
16    annual or 3-year a sportsmen's combination license that
17    shall entitle the holder to the same non-commercial
18    fishing privileges as residents holding a license as
19    described in subsection (a) of this Section and to the
20    same hunting privileges as residents holding a license to
21    hunt all species as described in Section 3.1 of the
22    Wildlife Code. No sportsmen's combination license shall be
23    issued to any individual who would be ineligible for
24    either the fishing or hunting license separately. The
25    annual sportsmen's combination license fee shall be
26    $25.50. The 3-year sportsmen's combination license fee

 

 

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1    shall be $78.75. For residents age 65 or older, the fee is
2    one-half of the fee charged for a sportsmen's combination
3    license. For resident veterans of the United States Armed
4    Forces after returning from service abroad or mobilization
5    by the President of the United States, the fee, commencing
6    with the 2012 license year, is one-half of the fee charged
7    for a sportsmen's combination license. Veterans must
8    provide to the Department, at one of the Department's 5
9    regional offices, verification of their service. The
10    Department shall establish what constitutes suitable
11    verification of service for the purpose of issuing
12    sportsmen's combination licenses to resident veterans at a
13    reduced fee.
14    (c-1) There shall be no fee for an annual or 3-year
15sportsmen's combination license for resident Gold Star Family
16members. A Gold Star Family member includes an immediate
17relative of a United States Armed Forces member who died in
18battle or in support of certain military activities, including
19a parent, child, brother, sister, or other loved one. Gold
20Star Family members must provide verification to the
21Department at one of the Department's 5 regional offices. The
22Department shall establish who qualifies for Gold Star Family
23member status and what constitutes suitable verification.
24        (d) For 24 hours of fishing by sport fishing devices
25    as defined in Section 10-95 or by spearing devices as
26    defined in Section 10-110 the fee is $5. This license does

 

 

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

 

 

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1            (2) Lifetime hunting: 30 x the current hunting
2        license fee.
3            (3) Lifetime sportsmen's combination license: 30 x
4        the current sportsmen's combination license fee.
5    Lifetime licenses shall not be refundable. A $10 fee shall
6be charged for reissuing any lifetime license. The Department
7may establish rules and regulations for the issuance and use
8of lifetime licenses and may suspend or revoke any lifetime
9license issued under this Section for violations of those
10rules or regulations or other provisions under this Code or
11the Wildlife Code. Individuals under 16 years of age who
12possess a lifetime hunting or sportsmen's combination license
13shall have in their possession, while in the field, a
14certificate of competency as required under Section 3.2 of the
15Wildlife Code. Any lifetime license issued under this Section
16shall not exempt individuals from obtaining additional stamps
17or permits required under the provisions of this Code or the
18Wildlife Code. Individuals required to purchase additional
19stamps shall sign the stamps and have them in their possession
20while fishing or hunting with a lifetime license. All fees
21received from the issuance of lifetime licenses shall be
22deposited in the Fish and Wildlife Endowment Fund.
23    Except for licenses issued under subsection (e) of this
24Section, all licenses provided for in this Section shall
25expire on March 31 of each year, except that the license
26provided for in subsection (d) of this Section shall expire 24

 

 

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1hours after the effective date and time listed on the face of
2the license.
3    All individuals required to have and failing to have the
4license provided for in subsection (a) or (d) of this Section
5shall be fined according to the provisions of Section 20-35 of
6this 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(Source: P.A. 97-498, eff. 4-1-12; 97-1136, eff. 1-1-13;
1198-800, eff. 8-1-14.)
 
12    Section 10. The Wildlife Code is amended by changing
13Section 3.2 as follows:
 
14    (520 ILCS 5/3.2)  (from Ch. 61, par. 3.2)
15    Sec. 3.2. Hunting license; application; instruction.
16Before the Department or any county, city, village, township,
17incorporated town clerk or his duly designated agent or any
18other person authorized or designated by the Department to
19issue hunting licenses shall issue a hunting license to any
20person, the person shall file his application with the
21Department or other party authorized to issue licenses on a
22form provided by the Department and further give definite
23proof of identity and place of legal residence. Each clerk
24designating agents to issue licenses and stamps shall furnish

 

 

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

 

 

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1the State. Persons successfully completing the course shall
2receive a certificate of competency. The Department of Natural
3Resources may further cooperate with any reputable association
4or organization in establishing courses if the organization
5has as one of its objectives the promotion of safety in the
6handling of firearms or bow and arrow.
7    The Department of Natural Resources shall designate any
8person found by it to be competent to give instruction in the
9handling of firearms, hunter safety, and bow and arrow. The
10persons so appointed shall give the course of instruction and
11upon the successful completion shall issue to the person
12instructed a certificate of competency in the safe handling of
13firearms, hunter safety, and bow and arrow. No charge shall be
14made for any course of instruction except for materials or
15ammunition consumed. The Department of Natural Resources shall
16furnish information on the requirements of hunter safety
17education programs to be distributed free of charge to
18applicants for hunting licenses by the persons appointed and
19authorized to issue licenses. Funds for the conducting of
20firearms and hunter safety courses shall be taken from the fee
21charged for the Firearm Owners Identification Card.
22    The annual fee for a hunting license to hunt all species
23for a resident of Illinois is $12. Residents of the State of
24Illinois may obtain a 3-year hunting license to hunt all
25species for a fee of $37.50. 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,
3the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a hunting license to
4hunt all species for a resident of Illinois. Veterans must
5provide to the Department, at one of the Department's 5
6regional offices, verification of their service. The
7Department shall establish what constitutes suitable
8verification of service for the purpose of issuing resident
9veterans hunting licenses at a reduced fee. There shall be no
10fee for an annual or 3-year hunting license for resident Gold
11Star Family members. A Gold Star Family member includes an
12immediate relative of a United States Armed Forces member who
13died in battle or in support of certain military activities,
14including a parent, child, brother, sister, or other loved
15one. Gold Star Family members must provide verification to the
16Department at one of the Department's 5 regional offices. The
17Department shall establish who qualifies for Gold Star Family
18member status and what constitutes suitable verification. The
19fee for a hunting license to hunt all species shall be $1 for
20residents over 75 years of age. Nonresidents shall be charged
21$57 for a hunting license.
22    Nonresidents may be issued a nonresident hunting license
23for a period not to exceed 10 consecutive days' hunting in the
24State and shall be charged a fee of $35.
25    A special nonresident hunting license authorizing a
26nonresident to take game birds by hunting on a game breeding

 

 

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1and hunting preserve area only, established under Section
23.27, shall be issued upon proper application being made and
3payment of a fee equal to that for a resident hunting license.
4The expiration date of this license shall be on the same date
5each year that game breeding and hunting preserve area
6licenses expire.
7    Each applicant for a State Migratory Waterfowl Stamp,
8regardless of his residence or other condition, shall pay a
9fee of $15 and shall receive a stamp. The fee for a State
10Migratory Waterfowl Stamp shall be waived for residents over
1175 years of age. Except as provided under Section 20-45 of the
12Fish and Aquatic Life Code, the stamp shall be signed by the
13person or affixed to his license or permit in a space
14designated by the Department for that purpose.
15    Each applicant for a State Habitat Stamp, regardless of
16his residence or other condition, shall pay a fee of $5 and
17shall receive a stamp. The fee for a State Habitat Stamp shall
18be waived for residents over 75 years of age. Except as
19provided under Section 20-45 of the Fish and Aquatic Life
20Code, the stamp shall be signed by the person or affixed to his
21license or permit in a space designated by the Department for
22that purpose.
23    Nothing in this Section shall be construed as to require
24the purchase of more than one State Habitat Stamp by any person
25in any one license year.
26    The fees for State Pheasant Stamps and State Furbearer

 

 

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1Stamps shall be waived for residents over 75 years of age.
2    The Department shall furnish the holders of hunting
3licenses and stamps with an insignia as evidence of possession
4of license, or license and stamp, as the Department may
5consider advisable. The insignia shall be exhibited and used
6as the Department may order.
7    All other hunting licenses and all State stamps shall
8expire upon March 31 of each year.
9    Every person holding any license, permit, or stamp issued
10under the provisions of this Act shall have it in his
11possession for immediate presentation for inspection to the
12officers and authorized employees of the Department, any
13sheriff, deputy sheriff, or any other peace officer making a
14demand for it. This provision shall not apply to Department
15owned or managed sites where it is required that all hunters
16deposit their license, permit, or Firearm Owner's
17Identification Card at the check station upon entering the
18hunting areas.
19(Source: P.A. 100-638, eff. 1-1-19; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)
 
20    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
21becoming law.