Public Act 0452 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB0872 Enrolled LRB096 06268 JDS 16351 b

Public Act 096-0452

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 adding Section 20-82 as follows:

(515 ILCS 5/20-82 new)

Sec. 20-82. Asian Carp Reduction Pilot Program.

(a) Subject to appropriation, the Department of Natural Resources shall establish a one-year pilot program to harvest Bighead Carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) in the Illinois River with the objective to increase the number of native fish and to curtail severely the reproductive capacity of these invasive species.

(b) The General Assembly may appropriate an amount not to exceed $3,000,000 to the Department of Natural Resources for the purposes of this pilot program. From the amounts appropriated, the Department may enter into contracts with research institutions, such as Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and the Illinois Natural History Survey for administration, staffing, materials, equipment, and research necessary for the program. The Department may also use appropriated funds for administrative costs it incurs to implement this program.

(c) The pilot program shall include the development of a scientific plan to reduce or remove Bighead Carp and Silver Carp from the river system.

(d) The Department shall issue a report with the results of the Asian Carp Reduction Pilot Program to the General Assembly no later than December 31, 2010.

(e) This Section is repealed on January 1, 2011.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.