HB3905 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 30027 RLC 56448 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB3905

Introduced 2/17/2023, by Rep. Katie Stuart

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

520 ILCS 5/1.3

Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of the Code or Department of Natural Resources rule to the contrary, the Department shall add one extra day to the deer hunting season to the second weekend of that hunting season.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning wildlife.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Wildlife Code is amended by changing Section 1.3 as follows:

(520 ILCS 5/1.3)

(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 102-1114)

Sec. 1.3. The Department shall have the authority to manage wildlife and regulate the taking of wildlife for the purposes of providing public recreation and controlling wildlife populations. The seasons during which wildlife may be taken, the methods for taking wildlife, the daily bag limits, and the possession limits shall be established by the Department through administrative rule, but the Department may not provide for a longer season, a larger daily bag limit, or a larger possession limit than is provided in this Code.

The Natural Resources Advisory Board may also recommend to the Director of Natural Resources any reductions or increases of seasons and bag or possession limits or the closure of any season when research and inventory data indicate the need for such changes.

The Department is authorized to establish seasons for the taking of migratory birds within the dates established annually by Proclamation of the Secretary, United States Department of the Interior, known as the "Rules and Regulations for Migratory Bird Hunting" (50 CFR 20 et seq.). When the biological balance of any species is affected, the Director may with the approval of the Conservation Advisory Board, by administrative rule, lengthen, shorten or close the season during which waterfowl may be taken within the federal limitations prescribed. If the Department does not adopt an administrative rule establishing a season, then the season shall be as set forth in the current "Rules and Regulations for Migratory Bird Hunting". The Department shall advise the public by reasonable means of the dates of the various seasons.

The Department may utilize the services of the staff of the Illinois Natural History Survey of the University of Illinois for making investigations as to the population status of the various species of wildlife.

Employees or agents of any state, federal, or municipal government or body when engaged in investigational work and law enforcement, may with prior approval of the Director, be exempted from the provisions of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 98-346, eff. 8-14-13.)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 102-1114)

Sec. 1.3. The Department shall have the authority to manage wildlife and regulate the taking of wildlife for the purposes of providing public recreation and controlling wildlife populations. The seasons during which wildlife may be taken, the methods for taking wildlife, the daily bag limits, and the possession limits shall be established by the Department through administrative rule, but the Department may not provide for a longer season, a larger daily bag limit, or a larger possession limit than is provided in this Code.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code or Department rule to the contrary, the Department shall add one extra day to the deer hunting season to the second weekend of that hunting season.

The Department is authorized to establish seasons for the taking of migratory birds within the dates established annually by Proclamation of the Secretary, United States Department of the Interior, known as the "Rules and Regulations for Migratory Bird Hunting" (50 CFR 20 et seq.). When the biological balance of any species is affected, the Director may, by administrative rule, lengthen, shorten or close the season during which waterfowl may be taken within the federal limitations prescribed. If the Department does not adopt an administrative rule establishing a season, then the season shall be as set forth in the current "Rules and Regulations for Migratory Bird Hunting". The Department shall advise the public by reasonable means of the dates of the various seasons.

The Department may utilize the services of the staff of the Illinois Natural History Survey of the University of Illinois for making investigations as to the population status of the various species of wildlife.

Employees or agents of any state, federal, or municipal government or body when engaged in investigational work and law enforcement, may with prior approval of the Director, be exempted from the provisions of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 102-1114, eff. 6-1-23.)

Section 95. No acceleration or delay. Where this Act makes changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by text that is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a Section represented by multiple versions), the use of that text does not accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i) the changes made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from any other Public Act.