Bill Text: IL HB3749 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Engrossed

---

Bill Title: Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code. Provides that a veteran who holds proof of a service-connected disability from the federal Department of Veterans Affairs, and whose degree of disability has been declared to be 50% or more, shall be eligible for a 50% reduction in the fees for a lifetime fishing license, lifetime hunting license, and lifetime sportsmen's combination license. The Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs may assist in providing the documentation of disability.

Sponsorship: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-3)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2016-05-12 - Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Gary Forby [HB3749 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-HB3749-Engrossed.html

---

HB3749 Engrossed LRB099 07254 MGM 27355 b
AN ACT concerning fish.
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. Veterans must provide, to the Department at one of
the Department's 5 regional offices, verification of their
service. The Department shall establish what constitutes
suitable verification of service for the purpose of issuing
fishing licenses to resident veterans at a reduced fee.
(a-5) The fee for all sport fishing licenses shall be

HB3749 Engrossed - 2 - LRB099 07254 MGM 27355 b
$1 for residents over 75 years of age.
(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 thereof,
of gill net or trammel net the fee is $18.
(c) Residents of the State of Illinois 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

HB3749 Engrossed - 3 - LRB099 07254 MGM 27355 b
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, 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, at one of the
Department's 5 regional offices, verification of their
service. The Department shall establish what constitutes
suitable verification of service for the purpose of issuing
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) of this Section.

HB3749 Engrossed - 4 - LRB099 07254 MGM 27355 b
(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)
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. Except as provided otherwise in this
subsection, the 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.

HB3749 Engrossed - 5 - LRB099 07254 MGM 27355 b
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. 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.
Commencing with the 2016 license year, resident veterans of
the United States Armed Forces shall be eligible for a lifetime
fishing license, lifetime hunting license, and lifetime
sportsmen's combination license for half price after returning
from service abroad or mobilization by the President of the
United States.
Except for licenses issued under subsection (e) of this
Section, all licenses provided for in this Section shall expire

HB3749 Engrossed - 6 - LRB099 07254 MGM 27355 b
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.
All individuals required to have and failing to have the
license provided for in subsection (a) 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.
(Source: P.A. 97-498, eff. 4-1-12; 97-1136, eff. 1-1-13;
98-800, eff. 8-1-14.)