Bill Text: IL SB3340 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code and the Wildlife Code. Provides that there is no fee for an annual or 3-year fishing license, sportsmen's combination license, or hunting license for resident Gold Star Family members. Directs the Department of Natural Resources to adopt rules establishing who qualifies for Gold Star Family member status and what constitutes suitable verification of that status. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-05-17 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments [SB3340 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SB3340-Introduced.html

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103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB3340 Introduced 2/7/2024, 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 there is no fee for an annual or 3-year fishing license, sportsmen's combination license, or hunting license for resident Gold Star Family members. Directs the Department of Natural Resources to adopt rules establishing who qualifies for Gold Star Family member status and what constitutes suitable verification of that status. Effective immediately.
LRB103 38106 JAG 68238 b
A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning fishing and hunting.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Fish and Aquatic Life Code is amended by
changing Section 20-45 as follows:
(515 ILCS 5/20-45) (from Ch. 56, par. 20-45)
Sec. 20-45. License fees for residents. Fees for licenses
for residents of the State of Illinois shall be as follows:
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, for
sport fishing devices as defined in Section 10-95 or
spearing devices as defined in Section 10-110, the fee is
$14.50 for individuals 16 to 64 years old, one-half of the
current fishing license fee for individuals age 65 or
older, and, commencing with the 2012 license year,
one-half of the current fishing license fee for resident
veterans of the United States Armed Forces 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. Veterans must
provide to the Department acceptable verification of their
service. The Department shall establish by administrative
rule the procedure by which such verification of service

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shall be made to the Department for the purpose of issuing
fishing licenses to resident veterans at a reduced fee.
(a-3) Except as otherwise provided in this Section,
for sport fishing devices as defined in Section 10-95 or
spearing devices as defined in Section 10-110, residents
of this State may obtain a 3-year fishing license. The fee
for a 3-year fishing license is 3 times the annual fee. For
residents age 65 or older, the fee is one half of the fee
charged for a 3-year fishing license. 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 3-year fishing license. Veterans must provide to the
Department, per administrative rule, verification of their
service. The Department shall establish what constitutes
suitable verification of service for the purpose of
issuing 3-year fishing licenses to resident veterans at a
reduced fee.
(a-5) The fee for all sport fishing licenses shall be
$1 for an annual license and 3 times the annual fee for a
3-year license for residents over 75 years of age.
(a-6) There is no fee for an annual or 3-year fishing
license for resident Gold Star Family members. A Gold Star
Family member includes an immediate relative of a United
States Armed Forces member who died in battle or in
support of certain military activities, including a

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parent, child, brother, sister, or other loved one. Gold
Star Family members must provide verification to the
Department at one of the Department's 5 regional offices.
The Department shall, by rule, establish who qualifies for
Gold Star Family member status and what constitutes
suitable verification.
(b) All residents before using any commercial fishing
device shall obtain a commercial fishing license, the fee
for which shall be $60 and a resident fishing license, the
fee for which is $14.50. Each and every commercial device
used shall be licensed by a resident commercial fisherman
as follows:
(1) For each 100 lineal yards, or fraction
thereof, of seine the fee is $18. For each minnow
seine, minnow trap, or net for commercial purposes the
fee is $20.
(2) For each device to fish with a 100 hook trot
line device, basket trap, hoop net, or dip net the fee
is $3.
(3) When used in the waters of Lake Michigan, for
the first 2000 lineal feet, or fraction thereof, of
gill net the fee is $10; and for each 1000 additional
lineal feet, or fraction thereof, the fee is $10.
These fees shall apply to all gill nets in use in the
water or on drying reels on the shore.
(4) For each 100 lineal yards, or fraction

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thereof, of gill net or trammel net the fee is $18.
(c) Residents of this State may obtain a sportsmen's
combination license that shall entitle the holder to the
same non-commercial fishing privileges as residents
holding a license as described in subsection (a) of this
Section and to the same hunting privileges as residents
holding a license to hunt all species as described in
Section 3.1 of the Wildlife Code. No sportsmen's
combination license shall be issued to any individual who
would be ineligible for either the fishing or hunting
license separately. The sportsmen's combination license
fee shall be $25.50. For residents age 65 or older, the fee
is one-half of the fee charged for a sportsmen's
combination license. For resident veterans of the United
States Armed Forces 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, the fee, commencing with the 2012
license year, is one-half of the fee charged for a
sportsmen's combination license. Veterans must provide to
the Department acceptable verification of their service.
The Department shall establish by administrative rule the
procedure by which such verification of service shall be
made to the Department for the purpose of issuing
sportsmen's combination licenses to resident veterans at a

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reduced fee.
(c-1) There is no fee for an annual or 3-year
sportsmen's combination license for resident Gold Star
Family members. A Gold Star Family member includes an
immediate relative of a United States Armed Forces member
who died in battle or in support of certain military
activities, including a parent, child, brother, sister, or
other loved one. Gold Star Family members must provide
verification to the Department at one of the Department's
5 regional offices. The Department shall, by rule,
establish who qualifies for Gold Star Family member status
and what constitutes suitable verification.
(c-5) Residents of this State may obtain a 3-year
sportsmen's combination license that shall entitle the
holder to the same non-commercial fishing privileges as
residents holding a license as described in subsection
(a-3) and to the same hunting privileges as residents
holding a license to hunt all species as described in
Section 3.1 of the Wildlife Code. A 3-year sportsmen's
combination license shall not be issued to any individual
who would be ineligible for either the fishing or hunting
license separately. The 3-year sportsmen's combination
license fee shall be 3 times the annual fee. For residents
age 65 or older, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for
a 3-year sportsmen's combination license. For resident
veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning

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from service abroad or mobilization by the President of
the United States, the fee is one-half of the fee charged
for a 3-year sportsmen's combination license. Veterans
must provide to the Department, per administrative rule,
verification of their service. The Department shall
establish what constitutes suitable verification of
service for the purpose of issuing 3-year sportsmen's
combination licenses to resident veterans at a reduced
fee.
(d) For 24 hours of fishing by sport fishing devices
as defined in Section 10-95 or by spearing devices as
defined in Section 10-110 the fee is $5. This license does
not exempt the licensee from the requirement for a salmon
or inland trout stamp. The licenses provided for by this
subsection are not required for residents of the State of
Illinois who have obtained the license provided for in
subsection (a) or (a-3) of this Section.
(e) All residents before using any commercial mussel
device shall obtain a commercial mussel license, the fee
for which shall be $50.
(f) Residents of this State, upon establishing
residency as required by the Department, may obtain a
lifetime hunting or fishing license or lifetime
sportsmen's combination license which shall entitle the
holder to the same non-commercial fishing privileges as
residents holding a license as described in paragraph (a)

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of this Section and to the same hunting privileges as
residents holding a license to hunt all species as
described in Section 3.1 of the Wildlife Code. No lifetime
sportsmen's combination license shall be issued to or
retained by any individual who would be ineligible for
either the fishing or hunting license separately, either
upon issuance, or in any year a violation would subject an
individual to have either or both fishing or hunting
privileges rescinded. The lifetime hunting and fishing
license fees shall be as follows:
(1) Lifetime fishing: 30 x the current fishing
license fee.
(2) Lifetime hunting: 30 x the current hunting
license fee.
(3) Lifetime sportsmen's combination license: 30 x
the current sportsmen's combination license fee.
Lifetime licenses shall not be refundable. A $10 fee shall
be charged for reissuing any lifetime license. The Department
may establish rules and regulations for the issuance and use
of lifetime licenses and may suspend or revoke any lifetime
license issued under this Section for violations of those
rules or regulations or other provisions under this Code or
the Wildlife Code, or a violation of the United States Code
that involves the taking, possessing, killing, harvesting,
transportation, selling, exporting, or importing any fish or
aquatic life protected by this Code or the taking, possessing,

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killing, harvesting, transportation, selling, exporting, or
importing any fauna protected by the Wildlife Code when any
part of the United States Code violation occurred in Illinois.
Individuals under 16 years of age who possess a lifetime
hunting or sportsmen's combination license shall have in their
possession, while in the field, a certificate of competency as
required under Section 3.2 of the Wildlife Code. Any lifetime
license issued under this Section shall not exempt individuals
from obtaining additional stamps or permits required under the
provisions of this Code or the Wildlife Code. Individuals
required to purchase additional stamps shall sign the stamps
and have them in their possession while fishing or hunting
with a lifetime license. All fees received from the issuance
of lifetime licenses shall be deposited in the Fish and
Wildlife Endowment Fund.
Except for licenses issued under subsection (e) of this
Section, all licenses provided for in this Section shall
expire on March 31 of each year, except that the license
provided for in subsection (d) of this Section shall expire 24
hours after the effective date and time listed on the face of
the license. Licenses issued under subsection (a-3) or (c-5)
shall expire on March 31 of the 2nd year after the year in
which the license is issued.
The Department shall by administrative rule provide for
the automatic renewal of a fishing license upon the request of
the applicant.

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All individuals required to have and failing to have the
license provided for in subsection (a), (a-3), or (d) of this
Section shall be fined according to the provisions of Section
20-35 of this Code.
All individuals required to have and failing to have the
licenses provided for in subsections (b) and (e) of this
Section shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
(g) For the purposes of this Section, "acceptable
verification" 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.
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. 102-780, eff. 5-13-22; 102-837, eff. 5-13-22;

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103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-456, eff. 1-1-24.)
Section 10. The Wildlife Code is amended by changing
Section 3.2 as follows:
(520 ILCS 5/3.2) (from Ch. 61, par. 3.2)
Sec. 3.2. Hunting license; application; instruction.
Before the Department or any county, city, village, township,
incorporated town clerk or his duly designated agent or any
other person authorized or designated by the Department to
issue hunting licenses shall issue a hunting license to any
person, the person shall file his application with the
Department or other party authorized to issue licenses on a
form provided by the Department and further give definite
proof of identity and place of legal residence. Each clerk
designating agents to issue licenses and stamps shall furnish
the Department, within 10 days following the appointment, the
names and mailing addresses of the agents. Each clerk or his
duly designated agent shall be authorized to sell licenses and
stamps only within the territorial area for which he was
elected or appointed. No duly designated agent is authorized
to furnish licenses or stamps for issuance by any other
business establishment. Each application shall be executed and
sworn to and shall set forth the name and description of the
applicant and place of residence.
No hunting license shall be issued to any person born on or

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after January 1, 1980 unless he presents the person authorized
to issue the license evidence that he has held a hunting
license issued by the State of Illinois or another state in a
prior year, or a certificate of competency as provided in this
Section. Persons under 18 years of age may be issued a Lifetime
Hunting or Sportsmen's Combination License as provided under
Section 20-45 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code but shall not
be entitled to hunt alone, without the supervision of an adult
age 21 or older, unless they have a certificate of competency
as provided in this Section and the certificate is in their
possession while hunting.
The Department of Natural Resources shall authorize
personnel of the Department or certified volunteer instructors
to conduct courses, of not less than 10 hours in length, in
firearms and hunter safety, which may include training in bow
and arrow safety, at regularly specified intervals throughout
the State. Persons successfully completing the course shall
receive a certificate of competency. The Department of Natural
Resources may further cooperate with any reputable association
or organization in establishing courses if the organization
has as one of its objectives the promotion of safety in the
handling of firearms or bow and arrow.
The Department of Natural Resources shall designate any
person found by it to be competent to give instruction in the
handling of firearms, hunter safety, and bow and arrow. The
persons so appointed shall give the course of instruction and

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upon the successful completion shall issue to the person
instructed a certificate of competency in the safe handling of
firearms, hunter safety, and bow and arrow. No charge shall be
made for any course of instruction except for materials or
ammunition consumed. The Department of Natural Resources shall
furnish information on the requirements of hunter safety
education programs to be distributed free of charge to
applicants for hunting licenses by the persons appointed and
authorized to issue licenses. Funds for the conducting of
firearms and hunter safety courses shall be taken from the fee
charged for the Firearm Owners Identification Card.
The fee for a hunting license to hunt all species for a
resident of Illinois is $12. For residents age 65 or older,
and, commencing with the 2012 license year, resident veterans
of the United States Armed Forces 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, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a
hunting license to hunt all species for a resident of
Illinois. Veterans must provide to the Department acceptable
verification of their service. The Department shall establish
by administrative rule the procedure by which such
verification of service shall be made to the Department for
the purpose of issuing resident veterans hunting licenses at a
reduced fee. There is no fee for an annual or 3-year hunting

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license for resident Gold Star Family members. A Gold Star
Family member includes an immediate relative of a United
States Armed Forces member who died in battle or in support of
certain military activities, including a parent, child,
brother, sister, or other loved one. Gold Star Family members
must provide verification to the Department at one of the
Department's 5 regional offices. The Department shall, by
rule, establish who qualifies for Gold Star Family member
status and what constitutes suitable verification. The fee for
a hunting license to hunt all species shall be $1 for residents
over 75 years of age. Nonresidents shall be charged $57 for a
hunting license.
Residents of this State may obtain a 3-year hunting
license to hunt all species as described in Section 3.1 for 3
times the annual fee. 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 3-year hunting license to hunt all species as described
in Section 3.1 for a resident of this State. Veterans must
provide to the Department, per administrative rule,
verification of their service. The Department shall establish
what constitutes suitable verification of service for the
purpose of issuing resident veterans 3-year hunting licenses
at a reduced fee.
Nonresidents may be issued a nonresident hunting license

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for a period not to exceed 10 consecutive days' hunting in the
State and shall be charged a fee of $35.
A special nonresident hunting license authorizing a
nonresident to take game birds by hunting on a game breeding
and hunting preserve area only, established under Section
3.27, shall be issued upon proper application being made and
payment of a fee equal to that for a resident hunting license.
The expiration date of this license shall be on the same date
each year that game breeding and hunting preserve area
licenses expire.
Each applicant for a State Migratory Waterfowl Stamp,
regardless of his residence or other condition, shall pay a
fee of $15 and shall receive a stamp. The fee for a State
Migratory Waterfowl Stamp shall be waived for residents over
75 years of age. Except as provided under Section 20-45 of the
Fish and Aquatic Life Code, the stamp shall be signed by the
person or affixed to his license or permit in a space
designated by the Department for that purpose.
Each applicant for a State Habitat Stamp, regardless of
his residence or other condition, shall pay a fee of $5 and
shall receive a stamp. The fee for a State Habitat Stamp shall
be waived for residents over 75 years of age. Except as
provided under Section 20-45 of the Fish and Aquatic Life
Code, the stamp shall be signed by the person or affixed to his
license or permit in a space designated by the Department for
that purpose.

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Nothing in this Section shall be construed as to require
the purchase of more than one State Habitat Stamp by any person
in any one license year.
The fees for State Pheasant Stamps and State Furbearer
Stamps shall be waived for residents over 75 years of age.
The Department shall furnish the holders of hunting
licenses and stamps with an insignia as evidence of possession
of license, or license and stamp, as the Department may
consider advisable. The insignia shall be exhibited and used
as the Department may order.
All other hunting licenses and all State stamps shall
expire upon March 31 of each year. Three-year hunting licenses
shall expire on March 31 of the 2nd year after the year in
which the license is issued.
Every person holding any license, permit, or stamp issued
under the provisions of this Act shall have it in his
possession for immediate presentation for inspection to the
officers and authorized employees of the Department, any
sheriff, deputy sheriff, or any other peace officer making a
demand for it. This provision shall not apply to Department
owned or managed sites where it is required that all hunters
deposit their license, permit, or Firearm Owner's
Identification Card at the check station upon entering the
hunting areas.
For the purposes of this Section, "acceptable
verification" means official documentation from the Department

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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.
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. 102-780, eff. 5-13-22; 103-456, eff. 1-1-24.)