Public Act 100-0169
 
HB3273 EnrolledLRB100 11162 SLF 21457 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 15-32 as follows:
 
    (515 ILCS 5/15-32)  (from Ch. 56, par. 15-32)
    Sec. 15-32. Lake Michigan Yellow perch and bloater chub;
commercial licenses.
    (a) The Department may shall issue a maximum of 5
commercial licenses for taking from the Illinois waters of Lake
Michigan yellow perch, and bloater chub, and other commercial
fish species designated by Department rule. Five licenses shall
be issued for the fishing year that began April 1, 1992, and
the Department shall issue licenses from time to time so that 5
valid licenses are always outstanding at any one time. All
licenses issued under this Section shall be valid for a period
of 3 years. The catch limits established by the Department for
the taking of yellow perch, and bloater chub, and other
designated commercial fish species shall be the same for all
active licensees.
    (b) At times determined by the Director, the Department
shall advertise a public drawing to accept new qualified
commercial fishing candidates and establish a ranking order for
these new candidates to fill open Lake Michigan commercial
fishing licenses. This ranking order shall continue to be used
until the list of eligible candidates is exhausted. Each
commercial license for the 1992 fishing year and thereafter
shall be issued as follows:
        (1) As to all individuals or corporations who held
    valid licenses as of April 1, 1992, the licenses shall
    remain in force and effect.
        (2) Thereafter, licenses shall be issued as necessary
    to reach and maintain a total of 5 outstanding licenses as
    follows:
            (A) First, to any individual or corporation as
        described in Section 15-5 who was licensed through a
        harvest contract pursuant to the public lottery
        drawing conducted by the Director on June 27, 1975, but
        such individual or corporation did not hold a valid
        commercial license, for whatever reason, on April 1,
        1992; provided, that the contractor shall have served
        any stated period of any license suspension or
        revocation established by an order of the Director.
        Among those individuals or corporations that meet the
        criteria under this item (A), priority shall be given
        to the individual or corporation that has been without
        a valid commercial license for the longest period of
        time.
            (B) Second, to any other individual or corporate
        entrant who had his specific name drawn in the public
        lottery drawing conducted by the Director on June 27,
        1975, but was not licensed as a harvest contractor at
        that time or thereafter.
            (C) Third, if there are insufficient license
        applicants available at the beginning of any fishing
        year who meet the requirements for licensure under this
        Section for the Director to issue 5 licenses, the
        Director shall order and conduct a new public lottery
        drawing before the commencement of the fishing year and
        shall draw the applicant list from a roster of
        qualified operators.
(Source: P.A. 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)