Public Act 0620 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB0853 Enrolled LRB098 05087 JDS 35118 b

Public Act 098-0620

AN ACT concerning safety.

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

Section 5. The Wildlife Code is amended by adding Section 3.1-9 as follows:

(520 ILCS 5/3.1-9 new)

Sec. 3.1-9. Youth Hunting License.

Any resident youth age 16 and under may apply to the Department for a Youth Hunting License, which extends limited hunting privileges. The Youth Hunting License shall be a renewable license that shall expire on the March 31 following the date of issuance.

For youth age 16 and under, the Youth Hunting License shall entitle the licensee to hunt while supervised by a parent, grandparent, or guardian who is 21 years of age or older and has a valid Illinois hunting license. Possession of a Youth Hunting License shall serve in lieu of a valid hunting license, but does not exempt the licensee from compliance with the requirements of this Code and any rules adopted under this Code.

A youth licensed under this Section shall not hunt or carry a hunting device, including, but not limited to, a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow unless the youth is accompanied by and under the close personal supervision of a parent, grandparent, or guardian who is 21 years of age or older and has a valid Illinois hunting license.

At age 17 years or when the youth chooses to hunt by themselves, they are required to successfully complete a hunter safety course approved by the Department prior to being able to obtain a full hunting license and subsequently hunt by themselves.

In order to be approved for the Youth Hunting License, the applicant must request a Youth Hunting License from the Department and submit a $7 fee, which shall be separate from and additional to any other stamp, permit, tag, or license fee that may be required for hunting under this Code. The Department shall adopt rules for the administration of the program, but shall not require any certificate of competency or other hunting education as a condition of the Youth Hunting License.

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