Public Act 098-0752

SB0902 Enrolled LRB098 05139 MRW 35170 b

AN ACT concerning wildlife.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,

represented in the General Assembly:

ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1-1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the

Herptiles-Herps Act.

Section 1-5. Purpose. For purposes of this Act, reptiles

and amphibians shall be exempt from the definition of "aquatic

life" under Section 1-20 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code. All

rules and enforcement actions under the Illinois Conservation

Law and the dangerous animals provisions in Section 48-10 of

the Criminal Code of 2012 related to reptiles and amphibians

shall be covered exclusively by this Act.

Section 1-10. Administrative agency. This Act shall be

administered and under the direction of the Department of

Natural Resources.

Section 1-15. Definitions. For the purposes of this Act,

unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following

terms are defined as:

"Administrative rule" means a regulatory measure issued by

the Director under this Act.

"Authorized law enforcement officer" means all sworn

members of the Law Enforcement Division of the Department and

those persons specifically granted law enforcement

authorization by the Director.

"Bona fide scientific or educational institution" means

confirming educational or scientific tax-exemption, from the

federal Internal Revenue Service or the applicant's national,

state, or local tax authority, or a statement of accreditation

or recognition as an educational institution.

"Contraband" means all reptile or amphibian life or any

part of reptile or amphibian life taken, bought, sold or

bartered, shipped, or held in possession or any conveyance,

vehicle, watercraft, or other means of transportation

whatsoever, except sealed railroad cars or other sealed common

carriers, used to transport or ship any reptile or amphibian

life or any part of reptile or amphibian life taken, contrary

to this Act, including administrative rules, or used to

transport, contrary to this Act, including administrative

rules, any of the specified species when taken illegally.

"Culling" means picking out from others and removing

rejected members because of inferior quality.

"Department" means the Illinois Department of Natural

Resources.

"Director" means the Director of the Illinois Department of

Natural Resources.

"Educational program" means a program of organized

instruction or study for providing education intended to meet a

public need.

"Endangered or threatened species" means any species

listed as endangered or threatened to the species level on

either the Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Fauna or

the federal U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service List of Threatened

and Endangered Species.

"Herptile" means collectively any amphibian or reptile

taxon, whether indigenous to this State or not.

"Indigenous or native taxa" means those amphibians and

reptiles to the subspecies level that can be found naturally in

this State.

"Individual" means a natural person.

"Medically significant" means a venomous or poisonous

species whose venom or toxin can cause death or serious illness

or injury in humans that may require emergency room care or the

immediate care of a physician. These species are categorized as

being "medically significant" or "medically important".

"Owner" means an individual who has a legal right to the

possession of a herptile.

"Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation,

organization, trade or professional association, firm, limited

liability company, joint venture, or group.

"Possession limit" means the maximum number or amount of

herptiles that can be lawfully held or possessed by one person

at any time.

"Possessor" means any person who possesses, keeps,

harbors, brings into the State, cares for, acts as a custodian

for, has in his or her custody or control, or holds a property

right to a herptile.

"Reptile show" means any event open to the public, for a

fee or without a fee, that is not a licensed pet store, where

herptiles or herptiles together with other animals are

exhibited, displayed, sold, bought, traded, or otherwise made

available for public display.

"Resident" means a person who in good faith makes

application for any license or permit and verifies by statement

that he or she has maintained his or her permanent abode in

this State for a period of at least 30 consecutive days

immediately preceding the person's application, and who does

not maintain permanent abode or claim residency in another

state for the purposes of obtaining any of the same or similar

licenses or permits under this Act. A person's permanent abode

is his or her fixed and permanent dwelling place, as

distinguished from a temporary or transient place of residence.

Domiciliary intent is required to establish that the person is

maintaining his or her permanent abode in this State. Evidence

of domiciliary intent includes, but is not limited to, the

location where the person votes, pays personal income tax, or

obtains a drivers license. Any person on active duty in the

Armed Forces shall be considered a resident of Illinois during

his or her period of military duty.

"Special use herptile" means any taxon of amphibian or

reptile for which a Herptile Special Use permit is required.

"Take" means possess, collect, catch, detain, hunt, shoot,

pursue, lure, kill, destroy, capture, gig or spear, trap or

ensnare, harass, or an attempt to do so.

"Transport" or "ship" means to convey by parcel post,

express, freight, baggage, or shipment by common carrier or any

description; by automobile, motorcycle, or other vehicle of any

kind; by water or aircraft of any kind; or by any other means

of transportation.

"Turtle farming" means the act of breeding, hatching,

raising, selling turtles, or any combination commercially for

the purpose of providing turtles, turtle eggs, or turtle parts

to pet suppliers, exporters, and food industries.

"Wildlife sanctuary" means any non-profit organization

that: (1) is exempt from taxation under the federal Internal

Revenue Code and is currently confirmed as tax exempt by the

federal Internal Revenue Service; (2) operates a place of

refuge where wild animals are provided care for their lifetime

or released back to their natural range; (3) does not conduct

activities on animals in its possession that are not inherent

to the animal's nature; (4) does not use animals in its

possession for entertainment; (5) does not sell, trade, or

barter animals in its possession or parts of those animals; and

(6) does not breed animals in its possession.

ARTICLE 5. INDIGENOUS OR

NATIVE HERPTILE TAXA

Section 5-5. Possession limits.

(a) The possession limit for indigenous amphibian and

reptile taxa (excluding common snapping turtles and bullfrogs)

is 8 total collectively with no more than 4 per species. Young

of gravid wild-collected amphibians and reptiles shall be

returned to the site of adult capture after birth.

(b) Only residents may possess herptiles collected from the

wild within this State under a valid sport fishing license;

non-residents may not possess herptiles collected from the wild

within this State except for scientific purposes, with a

Herptile Scientific Collection permit.

(c) All herptile species (other than bullfrogs and common

snapping turtles) may be captured by hand. This shall not

restrict the use of legally taken herptiles as bait by anglers.

Any captured herptiles that are not to be retained in the

possession of the captor shall be immediately released at the

site of capture, unless taken with a lethal method such as bow

and arrow, gig, spear, or pitchfork which does not permit

release without harm. All common snapping turtles and bullfrogs

taken for personal consumption must be kept and counted in the

daily catch creel or bag. No culling of these 2 species for

personal consumption is permitted.

(d) The trier of fact may infer that a person is collecting

from the wild within this State if he or she possesses

indigenous reptiles or amphibians, in whole or in part, if no

documentation exists stating that the animals were legally

collected from the wild outside of this State.

(e) Residents may possess a total of 8 native herp

specimens collectively, with no more than 4 per species,

without obtaining and possessing either a Herptile Scientific

Collection permit or Herpetoculture permit from the

Department, regardless of the origin of the species. A sport

fishing license is required for residents to legally collect

any native herp taxon on private land, with the landowner's

permission. Collecting herptiles on public lands shall require

additional permits.

(f) Any resident wishing to possess more than his or her

allowed possession limit shall first apply to the Department

for a Herptile Scientific Collection permit or Herpetoculture

permit to do so. Issuance, modification, or denial of any and

all of these permits shall be at the sole discretion of the

Department.

(g) Due to the similarity of appearance (S/A) of certain

intergrade or hybrid specimens, the Department retains the

authority to enforce any and all provisions under this Act.

Specimens determined by the Department, or its agents, to fit

into this S/A category shall receive all benefits of this Act,

as well as the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act if

applicable, and shall be included in an individual's overall

possession limit.

Section 5-10. Commercialization; herpetoculture.

(a) It is unlawful to take, possess, buy, sell, offer to

buy or sell or barter any reptile, amphibian, or their eggs,

any resulting offspring, or parts taken from the wild in this

State for commercial purposes unless otherwise authorized by

law.

(b) The trier of fact may infer that a person is collecting

from the wild within this State for commercial purposes if he

or she possesses indigenous reptiles or amphibians, in whole or

in part, for which no documentation exists stating that the

animals were legally collected from the wild outside this

State.

(c) Due to the similarity of appearance (S/A) of certain

intergrade or hybrid specimens, the Department retains the

authority to enforce any and all provisions under this Act.

Specimens determined by the Department, or its agents, to fit

into this S/A category shall receive all benefits of this Act,

as well as the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act if

applicable, and shall be included in an individual's overall

possession limit.

(d) A valid, Department-issued Herpetoculture permit shall

apply only to indigenous herp taxa. A Herpetoculture permit

shall not be required in order to commercialize non-indigenous

herp taxa except as otherwise prohibited or regulated under

this Act.

(e) Indigenous herp taxa collected from the wild in this

State may not be bred unless otherwise authorized by the

Department for research or recovery purposes.

Section 5-15. Protection of habitat. Habitat features that

are disturbed in the course of searching for reptiles and

amphibians shall be returned to as near its original position

and condition as possible, for example overturned stones and

logs shall be restored to their original locations.

Section 5-20. Taking of endangered or threatened species.

(a) No person shall take or possess any of the herptiles

listed in the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act or

subsequent administrative rules, except as provided by that

Act.

(b) Any Department-permitted threatened or endangered

(T/E) herptile species shall be exempt from an individual's

overall possession under the permitting system set forth in

this Act. However, any and all T/E specimens shall be

officially recorded with the Department's Endangered Species

Conservation Program. Any species occurring on the federal T/E

list also requires a Department permit for possession,

propagation, sale, or offer for sale unless otherwise permitted

through the Department.

(c) Due to the similarity of appearance (S/A) of certain

intergrade or hybrid specimens, the Department retains the

authority to enforce any and all provisions under this Act.

Specimens determined by the Department, or agents, to fit into

this S/A category shall receive all benefits of this Act, as

well as the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act if

applicable, and shall be included in an individual's overall

possession limit.

(d) Federally licensed exhibits shall not be exempt from

the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act.

(e) Any changes in T/E permit numbers for herptiles by

current, existing permit holders shall be reported to the

Department in writing no later than the first business day

after that change occurred. Requests for permits by any

resident acquiring a T/E species who is not permitted shall not

be issued after-the-fact.

(f) Annual reports are due by January 31 of each year for

the preceding year's activities. Failure to submit the annual

report by the due date shall result in a permit violation.

(g) An annual fee for herptile T/E species permits, per

permittee, shall be set by administrative rule. All fees for

herptile T/E species permits shall be deposited into the

Wildlife Preservation Fund.

(h) Procedures for acquisition, breeding, and sales of T/E

herptile species shall be set forth in administrative rule.

(i) Record keeping requirements for T/E herptile species

shall be set forth in administrative rule.

Section 5-25. Taking of snakes. Unless otherwise provided

in this Act, any non-threatened or non-endangered snake may be

taken by the owners or bona fide tenants of lands actually

residing on the lands and their children, parents, brothers,

and sisters permanently residing with them.

Section 5-30. Taking of turtles or bullfrogs; illegal

devices.

(a) No person shall take turtles or bullfrogs by commercial

fishing devices, including dip nets, hoop nets, traps, or

seines, or by the use of firearms, airguns, or gas guns.

Turtles may be taken only by hand or means of hook and line.

(b) Bullfrog; common snapping turtle; open season.

(1) All individuals taking bullfrogs shall possess a

valid sport fishing license and may take bullfrogs only

during the open season to be specified by administrative

rule. Bullfrogs may only be taken by hook and line, gig,

pitchfork, spear, bow and arrow, hand, or landing net.

(2) The daily catch limit and total possession limit

for all properly licensed persons shall be specified by

administrative rule.

(3) All persons taking common snapping turtles shall

possess a valid sport fishing license and may take common

snapping turtles only during the open season to be

specified by administrative rule. Common snapping turtles

(Chelydra serpentina) may be taken only by hand, hook and

line, or bow and arrow, except in the counties listed in

Section 5-35 where bowfishing for common snapping turtles

is not allowed.

(4) The daily catch limit and total possession limit

for all properly licensed persons shall be specified by

administrative rule.

(c) The alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii)

is protected and may not be taken by any method including, but

not limited to, any sport fishing method.

Section 5-35. Areas closed to the taking of reptiles and

amphibians.

(a) Unless otherwise allowed by law or administrative rule,

the taking of reptiles and amphibians at any time and by any

method is prohibited in the following areas:

The LaRue-Pine Hills or Otter Pond Research Natural Area in

Union County. The closed area shall include the Research

Natural Area as designated by the U.S. Forest Service and

the right-of-way of Forest Road 345 with Forest Road 236 to

the intersection of Forest Road 345 with the Missouri

Pacific railroad tracks. Unless otherwise authorized,

possession of any collecting equipment is prohibited

within the closed area.

(b) In the following counties bowfishing for common

snapping turtles is not permitted: Randolph, Perry, Franklin,

Hamilton, White, Gallatin, Saline, Williamson, Jackson, Union,

Johnson, Pope, Hardin, Massac, Pulaski, and Alexander, or in

any additional counties added through administrative rule.

(c) Collection of wild turtles for races or other types of

events involving congregating and gathering numbers of wild

turtles is prohibited in counties where ranavirus has been

documented. Inclusion on the county list shall be determined by

rule.

Section 5-40. Translocation and release of herptiles.

(a) Except as provided for in subsection (a) of Section

5-5, no herptile indigenous species may be moved, translocated,

or populations repatriated within this State without approval

of the Department, after review of a proposal complete with

long-term monitoring plan at least 5 years post-release.

(b) It shall be unlawful to intentionally or negligently

release any non-indigenous herptile species into this State.

ARTICLE 10. VENOMOUS REPTILES

Section 10-5. Venomous reptile defined. Venomous reptiles

include, but are not limited to, any medically significant

venomous species of the families or genera of the Order

Squamata: Helodermatidae, such as gila monsters and beaded

lizards; Elapidae, such as cobras and coral snakes;

Hydrophiidae, such as sea snakes; Viperidae and Crotalinae,

such as vipers and pit vipers; Atractaspididae, such as

burrowing asps; Colubridae in the following genera that shall

be determined by administrative rule: West Indian racers

(Alsophis); boigas and mangrove snakes (Boiga); road guarders

(Conophis); Boomslangs (Dispholidus); false water cobras

(Hydrodynastes); varied or hooded keelbacks (Macropisthodon);

Montpellier snakes (Malpolon); kukri snakes (Oligodon);

collared snakes (Phalotris); palm snakes or green racers

(Philodryas); sand snakes or racers (Psammophis); keelbacks

(Rhabdophis); beaked snakes (Rhamphiophis); twig snakes

(Thelotornis); black tree snakes (Thrasops); Pampas snakes

(Tomodon); Wagler's snakes (Waglerophis); false fer-de-lances

(Xenodon); specimens or eggs of the brown tree snake (Boiga

irregularis); and any other species added through legislative

process designated.

Section 10-10. Surgically altered venomous reptiles. It is

not a defense to a violation of Article 65 that the person

violating that Article has had the venomous reptile surgically

altered to render it harmless.

Section 10-15. Venomous reptile permit requirements. In

addition to those requirements listed in Articles 60 and 65 of

this Act, Herptile Special Use permits may be issued to

residents using approved venomous reptile species only for bona

fide educational programs, following an inspection and

approval of the proposed facilities. A minimum of 6 documented

programs shall be required of each permittee per calendar year.

Unless addressed or exempted by administrative rule, annual

permit renewal must be accompanied by a non-refundable fee as

set by the Department by administrative rule and documented

proof of educational programs completed on the recipient's

letterhead. Prospective permittees must have 250 documented

hours of experience with venomous reptiles. The Department or

the Department of Agriculture reserves the right to inspect

permittees and facilities during reasonable hours. Additions

to permits must be approved prior to acquisition of additional

venomous reptiles, and any changes shall be reported to the

Department in writing no later than the first business day

after that change occurred.

Section 10-20. Approved venomous reptiles. Permittees may

keep legally obtained venomous reptile specimens native to the

United States, except the following species: Eastern

diamondback rattlesnakes (Crotalus adamanteus); Western

diamondback rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox); Mojave rattlesnakes

(Crotalus scutulatus); Southern Pacific rattlesnakes (Crotalus

oreganus helleri); Eastern and Texas coral snakes (Micrurus

fulvius); Sonoran coral snakes (Micruroides euryxanthus); and

timber/canebrake rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) from the

southern portions of their range (Oklahoma, southern Arkansas,

Louisiana, and also southeastern South Carolina south through

eastern Georgia to northern Florida), known as "Type A" and

containing canebrake toxin.

Except for Boomslangs (Dispholidus), twig snakes

(Thelotornis), keelbacks (Rhabdophis), Lichtenstein's green

racer (Philodryas olfersii), and brown tree snake (Boiga

irregularis), medically significant snakes in the family

Colubridae defined in Section 10-5 of this Article may be

possessed with a permit.

Section 10-25. Maintenance of venomous reptiles.

Permittees shall keep approved venomous reptiles in strong

escape-proof enclosures that at a minimum are: impact

resistant, locked at all times, prominently labeled with the

permittee's full name, address, telephone number, list of cage

contents by scientific and common names, and a sign labeled

"venomous". The signage shall also include the type and

location of antivenom and contact information of the person or

organization possessing the antivenom.

Section 10-30. Educational programs with approved venomous

reptiles. Permittees shall keep approved venomous reptiles in

strong escape-proof enclosures that at a minimum are: impact

resistant, locked at all times, prominently labeled with the

permittee's full name, address, telephone number, list of cage

contents by scientific and common names, and a sign labeled

"venomous". Labeling shall also include the type and location

of antivenom and contact information of the person or

organization possessing the antivenom. Interiors of enclosures

may not be accessible to the public.

Section 10-35. Transport of approved venomous reptiles.

During transport of any approved venomous reptile, it must be

kept out of sight of the public in an escape-proof enclosure at

all times that is labeled "venomous". Transport of any venomous

reptile to any public venue, commercial establishment, retail

establishment, or educational institution shall only be for

bona fide educational programs or veterinary care.

Section 10-40. Additional regulations. Venomous reptiles

shall not be bred, sold, or offered for sale within this State.

The Department may approve limited transfers among existing

permittees at the sole discretion of the Department.

As determined by the Department, non-residents may apply

for a permit not to exceed 15 consecutive days to use venomous

reptiles in bona fide educational programs. The fee for the

permit shall be set by administrative rule, and all fees shall

be deposited into the Wildlife and Fish Fund.

ARTICLE 15. BOAS,

PYTHONS, AND ANACONDAS

Section 15-5. Boas, pythons, and anacondas. Nothing shall

prohibit lawfully acquired possession of any of the Boidae

family, such as boas, pythons, and anacondas, provided captive

maintenance requirements from the Department as set forth in

this Act are met. All boas, pythons, and anacondas referenced

in this Act are exempt from the permit process, associated

annual fee, and liability insurance coverage.

Section 15-10. Maintenance of boas, pythons, and

anacondas. Any species of boa, python, or anaconda not native

to the United States, regardless of length, must be properly

maintained in suitable, strong, impact resistant, escape-proof

enclosures at all times unless being used for bona fide

educational programs or trips for veterinary care.

Section 15-15. Educational programs with boas, pythons,

and anacondas. During any bona fide educational program

involving boas, pythons, or anacondas not native to the United

States, the owner or affiliated agent must maintain physical

possession of the snake at all times if removed from a

container or cage. Interiors of cages or containers used during

educational programs may not be accessible to the public.

Section 15-20. Transport of boas, pythons, and anacondas.

During transport of any boa, python, or anaconda, the snake

must be kept out of sight of the public in an escape-proof

enclosure at all times.

Section 15-25. Use of boas, pythons, and anacondas at

reptile shows. An owner or affiliated agent must have physical

possession and control of any boa, python, or anaconda that is

not native to the United States at all times if removed from a

container or cage. Uncontained boas, pythons, or anacondas

removed from cages for examination or onlooker interaction must

be kept confined either behind or at a display table. Interiors

of cages or containers may not be accessible to the public.

ARTICLE 20. CROCODILIANS

Section 20-5. Crocodilians. "Crocodilians" means any

species of the Order Crocodilia, such as crocodiles,

alligators, caimans, and gavials.

Section 20-10. Crocodilian permit requirements. In

addition to the requirements listed in Articles 60 and 65 of

this Act, Herptile Special Use permits may be issued to

residents using crocodilian species only for bona fide

educational programs, following an inspection and approval of

the proposed facilities. A minimum of 6 documented programs

shall be required of each permittee per calendar year. Unless

addressed or exempted by administrative rule, annual permit

renewal must be accompanied by a non-refundable fee as set by

the Department and documented proof of educational programs

completed on the recipient's letterhead. The Department or the

Department of Agriculture reserves the right to inspect

permittees and facilities during reasonable hours. Additions

to permits must be approved prior to acquisition of additional

crocodilians, and any changes shall be reported to the

Department in writing no later than the first business day

after that change occurred.

Section 20-15. Maintenance of crocodilians. Permittees

shall keep crocodilians maintained in suitable, strong, impact

resistant, escape-proof enclosures at all times unless being

used for bona fide educational programs or trips for veterinary

care.

Section 20-20. Educational programs with crocodilians.

During any bona fide educational program involving

crocodilians, the owner or affiliated agent must maintain

physical possession and control of the crocodilian at all times

if removed from a container or cage. Interiors of cages or

containers used during educational programs may not be

accessible to the public. Crocodilians removed from their cage

or enclosure for educational programs must have either the

mouth banded or taped shut or kept at a minimum of 10 feet from

the public and also kept out of direct contact with the public.

Section 20-25. Transport of crocodilians. During transport

of any crocodilian, it must be kept out of sight of the public

in an escape-proof enclosure at all times. Transport of any

crocodilian to any public venue, commercial establishment,

retail establishment, or educational institution shall only be

for bona fide educational programs or veterinary care.

Section 20-30. Additional regulations. Crocodilians shall

not be bred, sold, or offered for sale within this State.

As determined by the Department, non-residents may apply

for a permit not to exceed 15 consecutive days to use

crocodilians in bona fide educational programs. The fee for

this permit shall be set by administrative rule, and all fees

shall be deposited into the Wildlife and Fish Fund.

ARTICLE 25. MONITOR LIZARDS

Section 25-5. Monitor lizards. "Monitor lizards" means the

following members of the Varanidae family, specifically

crocodile monitors as well as Komodo dragons.

Section 25-10. Monitor lizard permit requirements. In

addition to those requirements listed in Articles 60 and 65 of

this Act, Herptile Special Use permits may be issued to

residents using monitor lizard species only for bona fide

educational programs, following an inspection and approval of

the proposed facilities. A minimum of 6 documented programs on

the family Varanidae shall be required of each permittee per

calendar year. Unless addressed or exempted by administrative

rule, annual permit renewal must be accompanied by a

non-refundable fee as set by the Department and documented

proof of educational programs completed on the recipient's

letterhead. The Department or the Department of Agriculture

reserves the right to inspect permittees and facilities during

reasonable hours. Additions to permits must be approved prior

to acquisition of additional monitor lizards, and any changes

shall be reported to the Department in writing no later than

the first business day after that change occurred.

Section 25-15. Maintenance of monitor lizards. Permittees

shall keep monitor lizards maintained in suitable, strong,

impact resistant, escape-proof enclosures at all times unless

being used for bona fide educational programs or trips for

veterinary care.

Section 25-20. Educational programs with monitor lizards.

During any bona fide educational program involving monitor

lizards, the owner or affiliated agent must maintain physical

possession and control of the monitor lizard at all times if

removed from a container or cage. Interiors of cages or

containers used during educational programs may not be

accessible to the public. Monitor lizards removed from their

cage or enclosure for educational programs must have either the

mouth banded or taped shut, or kept at a minimum of 10 feet

from the public and also kept out of direct contact with the

public.

Section 25-25. Transport of monitor lizards. During

transport of any monitor lizard, it must be kept out of sight

of the public in an escape-proof enclosure at all times.

Transport of a monitor lizard to any public venue, commercial

establishment, retail establishment, or educational

institution shall only be for bona fide educational programs or

veterinary care.

Section 25-30. Additional regulations. Monitor lizards

shall not be bred, sold, or offered for sale within this State.

As determined by the Department, non-residents may apply

for a permit not to exceed 15 consecutive days to use monitor

lizards in bona fide educational programs. The fee for the

permit shall be set by administrative rule, and all fees shall

be deposited into the Wildlife and Fish Fund.

ARTICLE 30. TURTLES

Section 30-5. Turtle farming. Turtles shall not be

commercially farmed in this State.

Section 30-10. Turtle collection. Collection of wild

turtles for races or other types of events involving

congregating and gathering numbers of wild turtles is

prohibited in counties where ranavirus has been documented.

Inclusion on the county list shall be determined by rule.

ARTICLE 35. AMPHIBIANS

Section 35-5. Amphibians. For the purposes of this Section,

"amphibians" means those medically significant poisonous

amphibians capable of causing bodily harm to humans or animals,

including, but not limited to, cane or marine toads (Bufo

marinus) and Colorado river toads (Bufo alvarius), or any other

amphibian found to be medically significant and shall only be

allowed for bona fide educational purposes or research purposes

by exempted institutions.

Poison dart frogs bred and raised in captivity shall be

exempt from the permit process.

ARTICLE 40. HERPTILE SCIENTIFIC

COLLECTION PERMITS

Section 40-5. Permit issuance. Herptile Scientific

Collection permits may be granted by the Department, in its

sole discretion, to any properly accredited person at least 18

years of age, permitting the capture, marking, handling,

banding, or collecting (including hide, skin, bones, teeth,

claws, nests, eggs, or young), for strictly scientific

purposes, of any of the herptiles not listed as endangered or

threatened but now protected under this Act. A Herptile

Scientific Collection permit may be granted to qualified

individuals for purpose of salvaging dead, sick, or injured

herptiles not listed as endangered or threatened but protected

by this Act for permanent donation to bona fide public or state

scientific, educational, or zoological institutions.

Collecting herptiles on public lands shall require additional

permits.

Section 40-10. Permit requirements. The criteria and

standards for a Herptile Scientific Collection permit shall be

provided by administrative rule. The Department shall set forth

applicable rules covering qualifications and facilities needed

to obtain a permit. Disposition of herptiles taken under the

authority of this Article shall be specified by the Department.

The holder of each permit shall make to the Department a report

in writing upon forms furnished by the Department. These

reports shall be made (i) annually if the permit is granted for

a period of one year or (ii) within 30 days after the

expiration of the permit if the permit is granted for a period

of less than one year. These reports shall include information

that the Department considers necessary.

ARTICLE 45. HERPTILE SCIENTIFIC

COLLECTION PERMIT APPLICATION AND FEES

Section 45-5. Permit application and fees. An applicant for

a Herptile Scientific Collection permit must file an

application with the Department on a form provided by the

Department. The application must include all information and

requirements as set by administrative rule. The application for

these permits shall be reviewed by the Department to determine

if a permit should be issued.

Unless addressed or exempted by administrative rule,

annual permit renewal must be accompanied by non-refundable fee

as set by the Department. The annual fee for a Herptile

Scientific Collection permit shall be set by administrative

rule. The Department shall adopt, by administrative rule, any

additional procedures for the renewal of a Herptile Scientific

Collection permit. All fees shall be deposited into the Fish

and Wildlife Fund.

ARTICLE 50. HERPETOCULTURE PERMITS

Section 50-5. Permit issuance. Any person or business who

engages in the breeding, hatching, propagation, sale, or offer

for sale of any indigenous herptile, regardless of origin,

shall procure a permit from the Department. Herptiles

specified, which are bred, hatched, propagated, or legally

obtained by a person or business holding a permit as provided

for in this Article, may be transported and sold or offered for

sale within this State. Indigenous herp taxa collected from the

wild in this State shall not be bred unless otherwise

authorized by the Department for research or recovery purposes.

Section 50-10. Permit requirements. Herpetoculture permit

holders shall maintain written records of all herptiles

indigenous to this State bought, sold, hatched, propagated,

sold, or shipped for a minimum of 2 years after the date of the

transaction and shall be made immediately available to

authorized employees of the Department upon request. These

records shall include the name and address of the buyer and

seller, the appropriate permit number of the buyer and seller,

the date of the transaction, the species name (both common and

scientific), and the origin of herptile involved. Records of

the annual operations, as may be required by the Department,

shall be forwarded to the Department upon request.

The criteria and standards for a Herpetoculture permit

shall be provided by administrative rule. The Department shall

set forth applicable rules, including a list of herptiles

indigenous to this State.

ARTICLE 55. HERPETOCULTURE

PERMIT APPLICATION AND FEES

Section 55-5. Permit application and fees. An applicant

for a Herpetoculture permit must file an application with the

Department on a form provided by the Department. The

application must include all information and requirements as

set forth by administrative rule. The application for these

permits shall be reviewed by the Department to determine if a

permit should be issued.

Unless addressed or exempted by administrative rule,

annual permit renewal must be accompanied by a non-refundable

fee as set by the Department. The annual fee for a residential

Herpetoculture permit shall be set by administrative rule. The

Department shall adopt, by administrative rule, any additional

procedures for the renewal of a Herpetoculture permit. All fees

shall be deposited into the Wildlife and Fish Fund.

As determined by the Department, non-residents may apply

for a permit not to exceed 15 consecutive days to commercialize

herptiles indigenous to this State as outlined in this Article.

The fee for the permit shall be set by administrative rule, and

all fees shall be deposited into the Wildlife and Fish Fund.

The Department shall adopt, by administrative rule,

additional procedures for the renewal of annual Herpetoculture

permits.

Section 55-10. Additional regulations. Nothing in

Articles 50 and 55 shall be construed to give permittees

authority to breed, hatch, propagate, sell, offer for sale, or

otherwise commercialize any herptile or parts thereof from

herptiles indigenous to this State, either partially or in

whole, that originate from the wild in this State.

Any offspring resulting from the breeding of herptiles

where one parent has been taken from the wild in this State and

the other parent from non-Illinois stock or captive bred stock

may not be legally sold or otherwise commercialized and shall

be treated as indigenous or native Illinois herp taxa subject

to Article 5 of this Act.

Color or pattern variations (morphs) of any herptile

indigenous to this State are not exempt from this Article.

Due to the similarity of appearance (S/A) of certain

intergrade or hybrid specimens, the Department retains the

authority to enforce any and all provisions under this Act.

Specimens determined by the Department, or its agents, to fit

into this S/A category shall receive all benefits of this Act,

as well as the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act if

applicable.

ARTICLE 60. HERPTILE SPECIAL

USE PERMIT REQUIREMENTS

Section 60-5. Permit requirements. Prior to any person

obtaining a Herptile Special Use permit, the following criteria

must be met:

(1) the person was in legal possession and is the legal

possessor of the herptile prior to the effective date of

this Act and the person applies for and is granted a

Personal Possession permit for each special use herptile in

the person's possession within 30 days after the enactment

of this Act; or

(2) prior to acquiring a Herptile Special Use permit,

the person must provide the name, address, date of birth,

permit number, telephone number of the possessor, type or

species, and the date the herptile is to be acquired.

The applicant must comply with all requirements of this Act

and the rules adopted by the Department to obtain a Herptile

Special Use permit. Prior to the issuance of the Herptile

Special Use permit, the applicant must provide proof of

liability insurance or surety bond, either individually, or in

the name of the entity giving the bona fide educational

programs, in the amount of $100,000 for each special use

herptile up to a maximum of $1,000,000 and the insurance or

surety bond is to be maintained during the term of the permit

for liability for any incident arising out of or relating to

the special use herptile.

ARTICLE 65. HERPTILE SPECIAL USE

PERMIT APPLICATION AND FEES

Section 65-5. Permit application and fees. An applicant for

a Herptile Special Use permit must file an application with the

Department on a form provided by the Department. The

application must include all information and requirements as

set forth by administrative rule.

The annual fee for a residential Herptile Special Use

permit shall be set by administrative rule on a per person

basis. The Herptile Special Use permit shall not be based on

the number of special use herptile kept by an owner or

possessor. All fees shall be deposited into the Wildlife and

Fish Fund.

The Department shall adopt, by administrative rule,

procedures for the renewal of annual Herptile Special Use

permits.

Any person possessing and in legal possession of a special

use herptile as stipulated in this Article that no longer

wishes to keep the herptile may be assisted by the Department,

at no charge to them and without prosecution, to place the

special use herptile in a new home, within 30 days after the

effective date of this Act.

The Department may issue a Limited Entry permit to an

applicant who: (i) is not a resident of this State; (ii)

complies with the requirements of this Act and all rules

adopted by the Department under the authority of this Act;

(iii) provides proof to the Department that he or she shall,

during the permit term, maintain sufficient liability

insurance coverage; (iv) pays to the Department, along with

each application for a Limited Entry permit, a non-refundable

fee as set by administrative rule, which the Department shall

deposit into the Wildlife and Fish Fund; and (v) uses the

herptile for an activity authorized in the Limited Entry

permit. A Limited Entry permit shall be valid for not more than

30 consecutive days unless extended by the Department, however,

no extension shall be longer than 15 days.

ARTICLE 70. SUSPENSION OF

PRIVILEGES AND REVOCATION OF

HERPTILE SPECIAL USE PERMITS

Section 70-5. Suspension of privileges and revocation of

permits. A person who does not hold a Herptile Special Use

permit or Limited Entry permit and who violates a provision of

this Act or an administrative rule authorized under this Act

shall have his or her privileges under this Act suspended for

up to 5 years after the date that he or she is in violation of

an initial offense, for up to 10 years after the date that he

or she is in violation of a second offense, and for life for a

third or subsequent offense. Department suspensions and

revocations shall be addressed by administrative rule.

A person who holds a Herptile Special Use permit or Limited

Entry permit and who violates the provisions of this Act shall

have his or her permit revoked and permit privileges under this

Act suspended for a period of up to 2 years after the date that

he or she is found guilty of an initial offense, for up to 10

years after the date that he or she is found guilty of a second

offense, and for life for a third offense. Department

suspensions and revocations shall be addressed by

administrative rule.

A person whose privileges to possess a special use herptile

have been suspended or permit revoked may appeal that decision

in accordance with the provisions set forth in administrative

rule.

ARTICLE 75. RECORD KEEPING REQUIREMENTS

OF SPECIAL USE HERPTILES

Section 75-5. Record keeping requirements. A person who

possesses a special use herptile must maintain records

pertaining to the acquisition, possession, and disposition of

the special use herptile as provided by administrative rule.

These records shall be maintained for a minimum of 2 years

after the date the special use herptile is no longer in

possession of the permit holder. All records are subject to

inspection by authorized law enforcement officers. In addition

to maintaining records, all special use herptiles must be

either pit-tagged or microchipped to individually identify

them and the pit-tag or microchip numbers are also to be

maintained as other pertinent records, unless otherwise

provided by administrative rule.

ARTICLE 80. INJURY TO A

MEMBER OF PUBLIC BY

SPECIAL USE HERPTILES

Section 80-5. Injury to a member of public by special use

herptiles. A person who possesses a special use herptile

without complying with the requirements of this Act and the

rules adopted under the authority of this Act and whose special

use herptile harms a person when the possessor knew or should

have known that the herptile had a propensity, when provoked or

unprovoked, to harm, cause injury to, or otherwise

substantially endanger a member of the public is guilty of a

Class A misdemeanor. A person who fails to comply with the

provisions of this Act and the rules adopted under the

authority of this Act and who intentionally or knowingly allow

a special use herptile to cause great bodily harm to, or the

death of, a human is guilty of a Class 4 felony.

ARTICLE 85. PROHIBITED ACTS WITH

SPECIAL USE HERPTILES

Section 85-5. Prohibited acts. Except as otherwise

provided in this Act or by administrative rule, a person shall

not own, possess, keep, import, transfer, harbor, bring into

this State, breed, propagate, buy, sell, or offer to sell, or

have in his or her custody or control a special use herptile.

A person shall not release any special use herptile into

the wild at any time unless authorized by the Director in

writing. The possessor of a special use herptile must

immediately contact the animal control authority or law

enforcement agency of the municipality or county where the

possessor resides if a special use herptile escapes or is

released.

The possessor of a special use herptile shall not keep,

harbor, care for, transport, act as the custodian of, or

maintain in his or her possession the special use herptile in

anything other than an escape-proof enclosure.

The possessor of a special use herptile shall not transport

the special use herptile to or possess the special use herptile

at a public venue, commercial establishment, retail

establishment, or educational institution unless specifically

authorized by permit or required to render veterinary care to

the special use herptile.

The possessor of a special use herptile, at all reasonable

times, shall not deny the Department or its designated agents

and officers access to premises where the possessor keeps a

special use herptile to ensure compliance with this Act.

Except as otherwise provided in this Act or by

administrative rule, a person shall not buy, sell, or barter,

or offer to buy, sell, or barter a special use herptile.

ARTICLE 90. PENALTIES

Section 90-5. Penalties. A person who violates Article 85

of this Act is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor for a first

offense and a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent offense

occurring within one year after a finding of guilt on a first

offense. A person who violates Article 75 of this Act is guilty

of a Class B misdemeanor. Each day of a violation constitutes a

separate offense. Any other violation of this Act is a Class A

misdemeanor unless otherwise stated.

All fines and penalties collected under the authority of

this Act or its administrative rules shall be deposited into

the Wildlife and Fish Fund.

ARTICLE 95. CIVIL

LIABILITY AND IMMUNITY

Section 95-5. Assumption of risk. Each person who owns,

possesses, or keeps a herptile expressly assumes the risk of

and legal responsibility for injury, loss, or damage to the

person or the person's property that results from the

ownership, possession, or keeping, of the herptile. Each owner,

keeper, or possessor of a herptile shall be solely liable to

manage, care for, and control a particular species, and it

shall be the duty of each owner, keeper, or possessor, to

maintain reasonable control of the particular herptile at all

times, and to refrain from acting in a manner that may cause or

contribute to the injury of person, whether in public or on

private property.

Section 95-10. Civil liability and immunity. If any

herptile escapes or is released, the owner and possessor of the

herptile shall be strictly liable for all costs incurred in

apprehending and confining the herptile, including any

injuries incurred to humans or damage to property, both real

and personal, including pets and livestock, and the owner shall

indemnify any animal control officer, police officer, or

Department employee acting in his or her official capacity to

capture or control an escaped herptile.

The owner, keeper, or possessor of an escaped herptile

shall be solely responsible for any and all liabilities arising

out of or in connection with the escape or release of any

herptile including liability for any damage, injury, or death

caused by or to the herptile during or after the herptile's

escape or release or as a result of the apprehension or

confinement of the herptile after its escape or release. In

addition, the owner, keeper, or possessor of an escaped

herptile shall be solely responsible for any and all costs

incurred by an animal control officer, police officer, or

Department employee acting in his or her official capacity to

capture or control an escaped herptile.

A licensed veterinarian who may have cause to treat a

special use herptile that is in violation of this Act shall not

be held liable, except for willful and wanton misconduct, under

this Act provided that the veterinarian (i) promptly reports

violations of this Act of which he or she has knowledge to a

law enforcement agency within 24 hours after becoming aware of

the incident; (ii) provides the name, address, and phone number

of the person possessing the special use herptile at time of

incident or treatment; (iii) provides the name and address of

the owner of the special use herptile if known; (iv) identifies

the kind and number of special use herptiles being treated; and

(v) describes the reason for the treatment of the special use

herptile.

ARTICLE 100. SEIZURE AND FORFEITURE

Section 100-5. Prima facie evidence; confiscation. The

possession of any reptile or amphibian life or any part of

reptile or amphibian life protected under this Act is prima

facie evidence that the reptile or amphibian life or any part

of reptile or amphibian life is subject to the provisions of

this Act, including administrative rules.

Whenever the contents of any box, barrel, package, or

receptacle consists partly of contraband and partly of legal

reptile or amphibian life or any part of reptile or amphibian

life, the entire contents of the box, barrel, or package, or

other receptacle are subject to confiscation.

Whenever a person has in his or her possession in excess of

the number of reptile or amphibian life or any parts of reptile

or amphibian life permitted under this Act, including

administrative rules, the entire number of reptile or amphibian

life or any parts of reptile or amphibian life in his or her

possession is subject to confiscation.

Section 100-10. Search and seizure. Whenever any

authorized employee of the Department, sheriff, deputy

sheriff, or other peace office of the State has reason to

believe that any person, owner, possessor, commercial

institution, pet store, or reptile show vendor or attendee

possesses any reptile or amphibian life or any part of reptile

or amphibian life contrary to the provisions of this Act,

including administrative rules, he or she may file, or cause to

be filed, a sworn complaint to that effect before the circuit

court and procure and execute a search warrant. Upon execution

of the search warrant, the officer executing the search warrant

shall make due return of the search warrant to the court

issuing the search warrant, together with an inventory of all

the reptile or amphibian life or any part of reptile or

amphibian life taken under the search warrant. The court shall

then issue process against the party owning, controlling, or

transporting the reptile or amphibian life or any part of

reptile or amphibian life seized, and upon its return shall

proceed to determine whether or not the reptile or amphibian

life or any part of reptile or amphibian life was held,

possessed, or transported in violation of this Act, including

administrative rules. In case of a finding that the reptile or

amphibian life was illegally held, possessed, transported, or

sold, a judgment shall be entered against the owner or party

found in possession of the reptile or amphibian life or any

part of reptile or amphibian life for the costs of the

proceeding and providing for the disposition of the property

seized, as provided for by this Act.

Section 100-15. Seizure and forfeiture. If any person is

found to possess a special use herptile that is in violation of

this Act, including any administrative rules, then the special

use herptile and any equipment or items used contrary to this

Act shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture by the

Department. Any special use herptile seized in violation of

this Act may immediately be placed in a facility approved by

the Department.

If a person's special use herptile has been seized by the

Department, then the owner and possessor of the special use

herptile is liable for the reasonable costs associated with the

seizure, placement, testing, and care for the special use

herptile from the time of confiscation until the time the

special use herptile is relocated to an approved facility or

person holding a valid Herptile Special Use permit or is

otherwise disposed of by the Department.

Any special use herptile and related items found abandoned

shall become the property of the Department and disposed of

according to Department rule.

The circuit court, in addition to any other penalty, may

award any seized or confiscated special use herptiles or items

to the Department as provided for in Section 1-215 of the Fish

and Aquatic Life Code and Section 1.25 of the Wildlife Code.

Further, the court, in addition to any other penalty, may

assess a fee upon a person who pleads guilty to the provisions

of this Act equal to the amount established or determined to

maintain the special use herptile until it is permanently

placed in a facility approved by the Department or otherwise

disposed of.

ARTICLE 105. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 105-5. Administrative rules. The Department is

authorized to adopt administrative rules for carrying out,

administering, and enforcing the provisions of this Act. The

administrative rules shall be adopted in accordance with the

Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

Rules, after becoming effective, shall be enforced in the

same manner as other provisions of this Act. It is unlawful for

any person to violate any provision of any administrative rule

adopted by the Department. Violators of administrative rules

are subject to the penalties in this Act.

Section 105-10. Conservation of reptiles and amphibians.

The Department shall take all measures necessary for the

conservation, distribution, introduction, and restoration of

reptiles and amphibians. The Department shall also bring or

cause to be brought actions and proceedings, in the name and by

the authority of the People of the State of Illinois, to

enforce this Act, including administrative rules, and to

recover any and all fines and penalties provided for in this

Act. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize the

Department to change any penalty prescribed by law or to change

the amount of license fees or the authority conferred by

licenses prescribed by law. The Department is authorized to

cooperate with the appropriate Departments of the federal

government and other Departments or agencies of State

government and educational institutions in conducting surveys,

experiments, or work of joint interest or benefit.

Section 105-15. Peace officers. All employees of the

Department authorized by the Director shall have the power of,

and shall be, peace officers in the enforcement of this Act,

including administrative rules, and may carry weapons as may be

necessary in the performance of his or her duties.

Section 105-20. Arrests; warrants. All authorized

employees of the Department and all sheriffs, deputy sheriffs,

and other police officers shall arrest any person detected in

violation of any of the provisions of this Act, including

administrative rules. Any duly accredited officer of the

federal Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service may

arrest any person detected in violation of any of the

provisions of this Act, including administrative rules.

All officers shall make prompt investigation of any

violation of this Act, including administrative rules,

reported by any other persons and shall cause a complaint to be

filed when there seems just ground for a complaint and evidence

procurable to support the complaint.

Upon the filing of a complaint, the officers shall render

assistance in the prosecution of the party against whom the

complaint is made.

Peace officers, other than employees of the Department,

making arrests and serving warrants provided for by this Act

shall receive the fees and mileage as provided for by law for

sheriffs.

Each duly accredited officer and authorized employee of the

Department is empowered to execute and serve all warrants and

processes issued by the circuit court.

Section 105-25. Prosecutions; State's Attorneys. All

prosecutions shall be brought in the name and by the authority

of the People of the State of Illinois before the circuit court

for the county where the offense was committed.

All State's Attorneys shall enforce the provisions of this

Act, including administrative rules, in his or her respective

county and shall prosecute all persons charged with violating

its provisions when requested by the Department.

Section 105-30. Statute of limitations. All prosecutions

under this Act shall be commenced within 2 years after the time

the offense charged was committed.

Section 105-35. Collection of fines. All fines provided for

by this Act shall be collected and remitted to the Department's

Wildlife and Fish Fund, within 30 days after the collection of

the fine, by the clerk of the circuit court collecting the

fines who shall submit at the same time to the Department a

statement of the names of the persons so fined and the name of

the arresting officer, the offense committed, the amount of the

fine, and the date of the conviction.

Section 105-40. Power of entry and examination; access to

lands and waters. Authorized employees of the Department are

empowered, under law, to enter all lands and waters to enforce

this Act. Authorized employees are further empowered to examine

all buildings, private or public clubs (except dwellings), fish

markets, reptile shows, pet stores, camps, vessels, cars

(except sealed railroad cars or other sealed common carriers),

conveyances, vehicles, watercraft, or any other means of

transportation or shipping, tents, bags, pillowcases, coats,

jackets, or other receptacles and to open any box, barrel,

package, or other receptacle in the possession of a common

carrier, that they have reason to believe contains reptile or

amphibian life or any part of reptile or amphibian life taken,

bought, sold or bartered, shipped, or had in possession

contrary to this Act, including administrative rules, or that

the receptacle containing the reptile or amphibian is falsely

labeled.

Authorized employees of the Department shall be given free

access to and shall not be hindered or interfered with in

making an entry and examination. Any permit or license held by

a person preventing free access or interfering with or

hindering an employee shall not be issued to that person for

the period of one year after his or her action.

Employees of the Department, as specifically authorized by

the Director, are empowered to enter all lands and waters for

the purpose of reptile or amphibian investigations, State and

federal permit inspections, as well as reptile or amphibian

censuses or inventories, and are further empowered to conduct

examination of equipment and devices in the field, under law,

to ensure compliance with this Act.

Section 105-45. Obstructing an officer. It shall be

unlawful for any person to resist or obstruct any officer or

employee of the Department in the discharge of his or her

duties under this Act. Any person who violates this provision

is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

Section 105-50. Posing as an officer or employee. It shall

be unlawful for any person to represent himself or herself

falsely to be an officer or employee of the Department or to

assume to act as an officer or employee of the Department

without having been duly appointed and employed. Any person who

violates this provision is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

Section 105-55. Illegal collecting devices; public

nuisance. Every collecting device, including seines, nets,

traps, pillowcases, bags, snake hooks or tongs, or any

electrical device or any other devices including vehicles or

conveyance, watercraft, or aircraft used or operated illegally

or attempted to be used or operated illegally by any person in

taking, transporting, holding, or conveying any reptile or

amphibian life or any part of reptile or amphibian life,

contrary to this Act, including administrative rules, shall be

deemed a public nuisance and therefore illegal and subject to

seizure and confiscation by any authorized employee of the

Department. Upon the seizure of this item, the Department shall

take and hold the item until disposed of as provided in this

Act.

Upon the seizure of any device because of its illegal use,

the officer or authorized employee of the Department making the

seizure shall, as soon as reasonably possible, cause a

complaint to be filed before the circuit court and a summons to

be issued requiring the owner or person in possession of the

property to appear in court and show cause why the device

seized should not be forfeited to the State. Upon the return of

the summons duly served or upon posting or publication of

notice as provided in this Act, the court shall proceed to

determine the question of the illegality of the use of the

seized property. Upon judgment being entered that the property

was illegally used, an order shall be entered providing for the

forfeiture of the seized property to the State. The owner of

the property may have a jury determine the illegality of its

use and shall have the right of an appeal as in other civil

cases. Confiscation or forfeiture shall not preclude or

mitigate against prosecution and assessment of penalties

provided in Article 90 of this Act.

Upon seizure of any property under circumstances

supporting a reasonable belief that the property was abandoned,

lost, stolen, or otherwise illegally possessed or used contrary

to this Act, except property seized during a search or arrest,

and ultimately returned, destroyed, or otherwise disposed of

under order of a court in accordance with this Act, the

authorized employee of the Department shall make reasonable

inquiry and efforts to identify and notify the owner or other

person entitled to possession of the property and shall return

the property after the person provides reasonable and

satisfactory proof of his or her ownership or right to

possession and reimburses the Department for all reasonable

expenses of custody. If the identity or location of the owner

or other person entitled to possession of the property has not

been ascertained within 6 months after the Department obtains

possession, the Department shall effectuate the sale of the

property for cash to the highest bidder at a public auction.

The owner or other person entitled to possession of the

property may claim and recover possession of the property at

any time before its sale at public auction upon providing

reasonable and satisfactory proof of ownership or right of

possession and reimbursing the Department for all reasonable

expenses of custody.

Any property forfeited to the State by court order under

this Section may be disposed of by public auction, except that

any property that is the subject of a court order shall not be

disposed of pending appeal of the order. The proceeds of the

sales at auction shall be deposited in the Wildlife and Fish

Fund.

The Department shall pay all costs of posting or

publication of notices required by this Section.

Section 105-60. Violations; separate offenses. Each act of

pursuing, taking, shipping, offered or received for shipping,

offering or receiving for shipment, transporting, buying,

selling or bartering, or having in one's possession any

protected reptile or amphibian life or any part of reptile or

amphibian life, seines, nets, bags, snake hooks or tongs, or

other devices used or to be used in violation of this Act,

including administrative rules, constitutes a separate

offense.

Section 105-65. Accessory to violation. Any person who aids

in or contributes in any way to a violation of this Act,

including administrative rules, is individually liable, as a

separate offense under this Act, for the penalties imposed

against the person who committed the violation.

Section 105-70. Permit fraudulently obtained. No person

shall at any time:

(1) falsify, alter, or change in any manner, or provide

deceptive or false information required for any permit issued

under the provisions of this Act;

(2) falsify any record required by this Act;

(3) counterfeit any form of permit provided for by this

Act;

(4) loan or transfer to another person any permit issued

under this Act; or

(5) use any permit issued to another person under this Act.

It is unlawful to possess any permit issued under the

provisions of this Act that was fraudulently obtained or which

the person or permittee knew, or should have known, was

falsified, altered, changed in any manner, or fraudulently

obtained.

The Department shall revoke all permits and suspend all

privileges under this Act of any person violating this Section

for a period of not less than 3 years. The procedures for

suspension under this Section shall be as provided for in

administrative rule. Anyone who violates a provision of this

Section shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

Section 105-75. Wildlife and Fish Fund; disposition of

money received. All fees, fines, income of whatever kind or

nature derived from reptile and amphibian activities regulated

by this Act on lands, waters, or both under the jurisdiction or

control of the Department and all penalties collected under

this Act shall be deposited into the State treasury and shall

be set apart in a special fund known as the Wildlife and Fish

Fund.

Section 105-80. Ownership and title of wild indigenous

reptiles and amphibians. The ownership of and title to all wild

indigenous reptile and amphibian life within the boundaries of

the State are hereby declared to be in the State and no wild

indigenous reptile and amphibian life shall be taken or killed,

in any manner or at any time, unless the person or persons

taking or killing the wild indigenous reptile and amphibian

life shall consent that the title to the wild indigenous

reptile and amphibian life shall be and remain in the State for

the purpose of regulating the taking, killing, possession, use,

sale, and transportation of wild indigenous reptile and

amphibian life after taking or killing, as set forth in this

Act.

Section 105-85. Application. This Act shall apply to

reptile and amphibian life or any part of reptile and amphibian

life (i) in or from any of the waters or lands wholly within

the boundaries of the State or over which the State has

concurrent jurisdiction with any other state or (ii) which may

be possessed in or brought into the State.

Section 105-90. Taking on private property. It is unlawful

for any person to take or attempt to take any species of

reptile or amphibian, or parts thereof, within or upon the land

of another, or upon waters flowing over or standing on the land

of another, without first obtaining permission from the owner

or the owner's designee. For the purposes of this Section, the

owner's designee means anyone who the owner designates in a

written authorization and the authorization must contain (i)

the legal or common description of property for which the

authority is given, (ii) the extent that the owner's designee

is authorized to make decisions regarding who is allowed to

take or attempt to take any species of reptiles or amphibians,

or parts thereof, and (iii) the owner's notarized signature.

Before enforcing this Section, the law enforcement officer must

have received notice from the owner or the owner's designee of

a violation of this Section. Statements made to a law

enforcement officer regarding this notice shall not be rendered

inadmissible by the hearsay rule when offered for the purpose

of showing the required notice. Any person who violates this

Section shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.

Section 105-95. Financial value of herptiles.

(a) For purposes of this Section, the financial value of

all reptiles and amphibians described under this Act taken,

possessed, or used in violation of this Act, whether in whole

or in part, is as follows:

(1) for processed turtle parts, $8 for each pound or

fraction of a pound; for each non-processed turtle, $15 per

whole turtle or fair market value, whichever is greater;

(2) for frogs, toads, salamanders, lizards, and

snakes, $5 per herptile or fair market value, whichever is

greater, in whole or in part, unless specified as a special

use herptile;

(3) for any special use herptile, the value shall be no

less than $250 per special use herptile or fair market

value, whichever is greater;

(4) for any endangered or threatened herptile, the

value shall be no less than $150 per endangered or

threatend herptile or fair market value, whichever is

greater; and

(5) any person who, for profit or commercial purposes,

knowingly captures or kills, possesses, offers for sale,

sells, offers to barter, barters, offers to purchase,

purchases, delivers for shipment, ships, exports, imports,

causes to be shipped, exported, or imported, delivers for

transportation, transports, or causes to be transported,

carries or causes to be carried, or receives for shipment,

transportation, carriage, or export any reptile or

amphibian life, in part or in whole, of any of the reptiles

and amphibians protected by this Act, and that reptile or

amphibian life, in whole or in part, is valued at or in

excess of a total of $300 or fair market value, whichever

is greater, as per value specified in paragraphs (1), (2),

(3), and (4) of this subsection commits a Class 3 felony.

(b) The trier of fact may infer that a person "knowingly

possesses" a reptile or amphibian, in whole or in part,

captured or killed in violation of this Act, valued at or in

excess of $600, as per value specified in paragraphs (1), (2),

(3), and (4) of subsection (a) of this Section.

Section 105-100. Home rule. A municipality or county may

adopt an ordinance governing amphibian and reptile species that

is more restrictive than this Act.

ARTICLE 110. EXEMPTIONS

Section 110-5. Exemptions. When acting in their official

capacity, the following entities and their agents are exempt

from Articles 75 and 85 of this Act:

(1) public zoos or aquaria accredited by the

Association of Zoos and Aquariums or the Zoological

Association of America;

(2) licensed veterinarians or anyone operating under

the authority of a licensed veterinarian;

(3) wildlife sanctuaries;

(4) accredited research or medical institutions;

(5) licensed or accredited educational institutions;

(6) circuses licensed and in compliance with the Animal

Welfare Act and all rules adopted by the Department of

Agriculture;

(7) federal, State, and local law enforcement

officers, including animal control officers acting under

the authority of this Act;

(8) members of federal, State, or local agencies

approved by the Department;

(9) any bona fide wildlife rehabilitation facility

licensed or otherwise authorized by the Department; and

(10) any motion picture or television production

company that uses licensed dealers, exhibitors, and

transporters under the federal Animal Welfare Act, 7 U.S.C.

2132.

Section 900-5. The Fish and Aquatic Life Code is amended by

changing Sections 1-20, 5-25, 10-30, 10-35, 10-60, 10-65, and

10-115 as follows:

(515 ILCS 5/1-20) (from Ch. 56, par. 1-20)

Sec. 1-20. Aquatic life. "Aquatic life" means all fish,

reptiles, amphibians, crayfish, and mussels. For the purposes

of Section 20-90, the definition of "aquatic life" shall

include, but is not limited to, all fish, reptiles, amphibians,

mollusks, crustaceans, algae or other aquatic plants, and

invertebrates. Aquatic life does not mean any herptiles that

are found in the Herptiles-Herps Act.

(Source: P.A. 89-66, eff. 1-1-96.)

(515 ILCS 5/5-25) (from Ch. 56, par. 5-25)

Sec. 5-25. Value of protected species; violations.

(a) Any person who, for profit or commercial purposes,

knowingly captures or kills, possesses, offers for sale, sells,

offers to barter, barters, offers to purchase, purchases,

delivers for shipment, ships, exports, imports, causes to be

shipped, exported, or imported, delivers for transportation,

transports or causes to be transported, carries or causes to be

carried, or receives for shipment, transportation, carriage,

or export any aquatic life, in part or in whole of any of the

species protected by this Code, contrary to the provisions of

the Code, and that aquatic life, in whole or in part, is valued

at or in excess of a total of $300, as per species value

specified in subsection (c) of this Section, commits a Class 3

felony.

A person is guilty of a Class 4 felony if convicted under

this Section for more than one violation within a 90-day period

if the aquatic life involved in each violation are not valued

at or in excess of $300 but the total value of the aquatic life

involved with the multiple violations is at or in excess of

$300. The prosecution for a Class 4 felony for these multiple

violations must be alleged in a single charge or indictment and

brought in a single prosecution.

Any person who violates this subsection (a) when the total

value of species is less than $300 commits a Class A

misdemeanor except as otherwise provided.

(b) Possession of aquatic life, in whole or in part,

captured or killed in violation of this Code, valued at or in

excess of $600, as per species value specified in subsection

(c) of this Section, shall be considered prima facie evidence

of possession for profit or commercial purposes.

(c) For purposes of this Section, the fair market value or

replacement cost, whichever is greater, must be used to

determine the value of the species protected by this Code, but

in no case shall the minimum value of all aquatic life and

their hybrids protected by this Code, whether dressed or not

dressed, be less than the following:

(1) For each muskellunge, northern pike, walleye,

striped bass, sauger, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass,

spotted bass, trout (all species), salmon (all species

other than chinook caught from August 1 through December

31), and sturgeon (other than pallid or lake sturgeon) of a

weight, dressed or not dressed, of one pound or more, $4

for each pound or fraction of a pound. For each individual

fish with a dressed or not dressed weight of less than one

pound, $4. For parts of fish processed past the dressed

state, $8 per pound.

(2) For each warmouth, rock bass, white bass, yellow

bass, sunfish (all species except largemouth, smallmouth,

and spotted bass), bluegill, crappie, bullheads,

pickerels, yellow perch, catfish (all species), and

mussels of a weight, dressed or not dressed, of one pound

or more, $4 for each pound or fraction of a pound of

aquatic life. For each individual aquatic life with a

dressed or not dressed weight of less than one pound, $4.

For aquatic life parts processed past the dressed state, $8

per pound.

(3) (Blank). For processed turtle parts, $6 for each

pound or fraction of a pound. For each non-processed

turtle, $8 per turtle.

(4) (Blank). For frogs, toads, salamanders, lizards,

and snakes, $8 per animal in whole or in part.

(5) For goldeye, mooneye, carp, carpsuckers (all

species), suckers (all species), redhorse (all species),

buffalo (all species), freshwater drum, skipjack, shad

(all species), alewife, smelt, gar, bowfin, chinook salmon

caught from August 1 through December 31, and all other

aquatic life protected by this Code, not listed in

paragraphs (1), (2), or (5) (3), or (4) of subsection (c)

of this Section, $1 per pound, in part or in whole.

(6) For each species listed on the federal or State

endangered and threatened species list, and for lake and

pallid sturgeon, $150 per animal in whole or in part.

(Source: P.A. 95-147, eff. 8-14-07.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-30) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-30)

Sec. 10-30. Bullfrog; open season. Bullfrog open season is

found in Section 5-30 of the Herptiles-Herps Act. All

individuals taking bullfrogs shall possess a valid sport

fishing license and may take bullfrogs only during the

following open season of June 15 through August 31, both

inclusive.

(Source: P.A. 87-833.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-35) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-35)

Sec. 10-35. Daily limit; bullfrogs. Bullfrog daily limit is

found in Section 5-30 of the Herptiles-Herps Act. The daily

limit for all properly licensed individuals is 8 bullfrogs. The

possession limit total is 16 bullfrogs.

(Source: P.A. 87-833.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-60) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-60)

Sec. 10-60. Taking of turtles or bullfrogs; illegal

devices. Taking of turtles or bullfrogs is found in Section

5-30 of the Herptiles-Herps Act. No person shall take turtles

or bullfrogs by commercial fishing devices, including hoop

nets, traps, or seines, or by the use of firearms, airguns, or

gas guns.

(Source: P.A. 87-833.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-65) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-65)

Sec. 10-65. Taking of snakes. Taking of snakes is found in

Section 5-25 of the Herptiles-Herps Act. Unless otherwise

provided in this Code, snakes may be taken by the owners or

bonafide tenants of lands actually residing on the lands and

their children, parents, brothers, and sisters actually

permanently residing with them.

(Source: P.A. 87-833.)

(515 ILCS 5/10-115) (from Ch. 56, par. 10-115)

Sec. 10-115. Taking of turtles. Taking of turtles is found

in Section 5-30 of the Herptiles-Herps Act. Turtles may be

taken only by hand or means of hook and line. The provisions of

this Section are subject to modification by administrative

rule.

(Source: P.A. 87-833.)

Section 900-10. The Illinois Endangered Species Protection

Act is amended by changing Sections 4 and 5 as follows:

(520 ILCS 10/4) (from Ch. 8, par. 334)

Sec. 4. Upon receipt of proper application and approval of

the same, the Department may issue to any qualified person a

permit which allows the taking, possession, transport,

purchase, or disposal of specimens or products of an endangered

or threatened species of animal or federal endangered plant

after the effective date of this Act for justified purposes,

that will enhance the survival of the affected species by

zoological, botanical or educational or for scientific

purposes only. Section 5-20 of the Herptiles-Herps Act has

provisions for permits to acquire, breed, and sell captive,

legally obtained endangered and threatened amphibians and

reptiles. Rules for the issuance and maintenance of permits

shall be promulgated by the Department after consultation with

and written approval of the Board. The Department shall, upon

notice and hearing, revoke the permit of any holder thereof

upon finding that the person is not complying with the terms of

the permit, the person is knowingly providing incorrect or

inadequate information, the activity covered by the permit is

placing the species in undue jeopardy, or for other cause.

(Source: P.A. 84-1065.)

(520 ILCS 10/5) (from Ch. 8, par. 335)

Sec. 5. (a) Upon receipt of proper application and approval

of same, the Department may issue a limited permit authorizing

the possession, purchase or disposition of animals or animal

products of an endangered or threatened species, or federal

endangered plants to any person which had in its possession

prior to the effective date of this Act such an item or which

obtained such an item legally out-of-state. Such permit shall

specifically name and describe each pertinent item possessed by

the permit holder and shall be valid only for possession,

purchase or disposition of the items so named. The Department

may require proof that acquisition of such items was made

before the effective date of this Act. The Department may also

issue a limited permit authorizing the possession, purchase or

disposition of live animals or such item to any person to whom

a holder of a valid permit issued pursuant to this section

gives, sells, or otherwise transfers the item named in the

permit. Section 5-20 of the Herptiles-Herps Act has provisions

for permits to acquire, breed, and sell captive, legally

obtained endangered and threatened amphibians and reptiles.

Limited permits issued pursuant to this section shall be valid

only as long as the item remains in the possession of the

person to whom the permit was issued.

(b) The limited permit shall be revoked by the Department

if it finds that the holder has received it on the basis of

false information, is not complying with its terms, or for

other cause.

(Source: P.A. 84-1065.)

Section 900-15. The Criminal Code of 2012 is amended by

changing Section 48-10 as follows:

(720 ILCS 5/48-10)

Sec. 48-10. Dangerous animals.

(a) Definitions. As used in this Section, unless the

context otherwise requires:

"Dangerous animal" means a lion, tiger, leopard,

ocelot, jaguar, cheetah, margay, mountain lion, lynx,

bobcat, jaguarundi, bear, hyena, wolf or coyote, or any

poisonous or life-threatening reptile. Dangerous animal

does not mean any herptiles included in the Herptiles-Herps

Act.

"Owner" means any person who (1) has a right of

property in a dangerous animal or primate, (2) keeps or

harbors a dangerous animal or primate, (3) has a dangerous

animal or primate in his or her care, or (4) acts as

custodian of a dangerous animal or primate.

"Person" means any individual, firm, association,

partnership, corporation, or other legal entity, any

public or private institution, the State, or any municipal

corporation or political subdivision of the State.

"Primate" means a nonhuman member of the order primate,

including but not limited to chimpanzee, gorilla,

orangutan, bonobo, gibbon, monkey, lemur, loris, aye-aye,

and tarsier.

(b) Dangerous animal or primate offense. No person shall

have a right of property in, keep, harbor, care for, act as

custodian of or maintain in his or her possession any dangerous

animal or primate except at a properly maintained zoological

park, federally licensed exhibit, circus, college or

university, scientific institution, research laboratory,

veterinary hospital, hound running area, or animal refuge in an

escape-proof enclosure.

(c) Exemptions.

(1) This Section does not prohibit a person who had

lawful possession of a primate before January 1, 2011, from

continuing to possess that primate if the person registers

the animal by providing written notification to the local

animal control administrator on or before April 1, 2011.

The notification shall include:

(A) the person's name, address, and telephone

number; and

(B) the type of primate, the age, a photograph, a

description of any tattoo, microchip, or other

identifying information, and a list of current

inoculations.

(2) This Section does not prohibit a person who is

permanently disabled with a severe mobility impairment

from possessing a single capuchin monkey to assist the

person in performing daily tasks if:

(A) the capuchin monkey was obtained from and

trained at a licensed nonprofit organization described

in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of

1986, the nonprofit tax status of which was obtained on

the basis of a mission to improve the quality of life

of severely mobility-impaired individuals; and

(B) the person complies with the notification

requirements as described in paragraph (1) of this

subsection (c).

(d) A person who registers a primate shall notify the local

animal control administrator within 30 days of a change of

address. If the person moves to another locality within the

State, the person shall register the primate with the new local

animal control administrator within 30 days of moving by

providing written notification as provided in paragraph (1) of

subsection (c) and shall include proof of the prior

registration.

(e) A person who registers a primate shall notify the local

animal control administrator immediately if the primate dies,

escapes, or bites, scratches, or injures a person.

(f) It is no defense to a violation of subsection (b) that

the person violating subsection (b) has attempted to

domesticate the dangerous animal. If there appears to be

imminent danger to the public, any dangerous animal found not

in compliance with the provisions of this Section shall be

subject to seizure and may immediately be placed in an approved

facility. Upon the conviction of a person for a violation of

subsection (b), the animal with regard to which the conviction

was obtained shall be confiscated and placed in an approved

facility, with the owner responsible for all costs connected

with the seizure and confiscation of the animal. Approved

facilities include, but are not limited to, a zoological park,

federally licensed exhibit, humane society, veterinary

hospital or animal refuge.

(g) Sentence. Any person violating this Section is guilty

of a Class C misdemeanor. Any corporation or partnership, any

officer, director, manager or managerial agent of the

partnership or corporation who violates this Section or causes

the partnership or corporation to violate this Section is

guilty of a Class C misdemeanor. Each day of violation

constitutes a separate offense.