101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB4317

 

Introduced 1/29/2020, by Rep. Tony McCombie

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
515 ILCS 5/20-5  from Ch. 56, par. 20-5

    Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code. Provides that individuals under the age of 18 (instead of 16) may fish with sport fishing devices without being required to have a license. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning fish.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Fish and Aquatic Life Code is amended by
5changing Section 20-5 as follows:
 
6    (515 ILCS 5/20-5)  (from Ch. 56, par. 20-5)
7    Sec. 20-5. Necessity of license; exemptions.
8    (a) Any person taking or attempting to take any fish,
9including minnows for commercial purposes, turtles, mussels,
10crayfish, or frogs by any means whatever in any waters or lands
11wholly or in part within the jurisdiction of the State,
12including that part of Lake Michigan under the jurisdiction of
13this State, shall first obtain a license to do so, and shall do
14so only during the respective periods of the year when it shall
15be lawful as provided in this Code. Individuals under 18 16,
16blind residents or residents with a disability, or individuals
17fishing at fee fishing areas licensed by the Department,
18however, may fish with sport fishing devices without being
19required to have a license. For the purpose of this Section an
20individual is blind or has a disability if that individual has
21a Class 2 disability as defined in Section 4A of the Illinois
22Identification Card Act. For purposes of this Section an
23Illinois Person with a Disability Identification Card issued

 

 

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1under the Illinois Identification Card Act indicating that the
2individual named on the card has a Class 2 disability shall be
3adequate documentation of a disability.
4    (b) A courtesy non-resident sport fishing license or stamp
5may be issued at the discretion of the Director, without fee,
6to (i) any individual officially employed in the wildlife and
7fish or conservation department of another state or of the
8United States who is within the State to assist or consult or
9cooperate with the Director or (ii) the officials of other
10states, the United States, foreign countries, or officers or
11representatives of conservation organizations or publications
12while in the State as guests of the Governor or Director.
13    (c) The Director may issue special fishing permits without
14cost to groups of hospital patients or to individuals with
15disabilities for use on specified dates in connection with
16supervised fishing for therapy.
17    (d) Veterans who, according to the determination of the
18Veterans' Administration as certified by the Department of
19Veterans' Affairs, are at least 10% disabled with
20service-related disabilities or in receipt of total disability
21pensions may fish with sport fishing devices during those
22periods of the year it is lawful to do so without being
23required to have a license, on the condition that their
24respective disabilities do not prevent them from fishing in a
25manner which is safe to themselves and others.
26    (e) Each year the Director may designate a period, not to

 

 

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1exceed 4 days in duration, when sport fishermen may fish waters
2wholly or in part within the jurisdiction of the State,
3including that part of Lake Michigan under the jurisdiction of
4the State, and not be required to obtain the license or stamp
5required by subsection (a) of this Section, Section 20-10 or
6subsection (a) of Section 20-55. The term of any such period
7shall be established by administrative rule. This subsection
8shall not apply to commercial fishing.
9    (f) The Director may issue special fishing permits without
10cost for a group event, restricted to specific dates and
11locations if it is determined by the Department that the event
12is beneficial in promoting sport fishing in Illinois.
13(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)
 
14    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
15becoming law.