103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB3493 Introduced , by Rep. David Friess SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 20 ILCS 835/4d new520 ILCS 5/3.1-4 520 ILCS 5/3.2 from Ch. 61, par. 3.2 Amends the State Parks Act. Requires all persons or entities seeking to charge fees to participants, provide items for sale, or otherwise collect money or items as part of an event located on property or facilities that are owned, leased, or managed by the Department of Natural Resources to complete a permit to sell application form to obtain a permit to sell. Provides that all revenue generated from an event shall be subject to a 10% fee payable to the Department of Natural Resources upon completion of the event. Requires all funds received by the Department to be allocated to the site at which the fees were collected. Waives activity permit fees, permit to sell fees, the 10% facility fees, and facility usage fees for formally recognized Friends Groups and for all fishing tournaments and clubs. Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that resident military members returning from active duty, regardless of mobilization or deployment, shall receive one free hunting license, one free trapping license, one specified free Deer Hunting Permit, and one free State Habitat Stamp if the military member applies within 2 years of active duty service. Provides that hunting license fees for all resident veterans, regardless of deployment, shall be one-half of the current license fee amount. Effective immediately. LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB3493 Introduced , by Rep. David Friess SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 20 ILCS 835/4d new520 ILCS 5/3.1-4 520 ILCS 5/3.2 from Ch. 61, par. 3.2 20 ILCS 835/4d new 520 ILCS 5/3.1-4 520 ILCS 5/3.2 from Ch. 61, par. 3.2 Amends the State Parks Act. Requires all persons or entities seeking to charge fees to participants, provide items for sale, or otherwise collect money or items as part of an event located on property or facilities that are owned, leased, or managed by the Department of Natural Resources to complete a permit to sell application form to obtain a permit to sell. Provides that all revenue generated from an event shall be subject to a 10% fee payable to the Department of Natural Resources upon completion of the event. Requires all funds received by the Department to be allocated to the site at which the fees were collected. Waives activity permit fees, permit to sell fees, the 10% facility fees, and facility usage fees for formally recognized Friends Groups and for all fishing tournaments and clubs. Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that resident military members returning from active duty, regardless of mobilization or deployment, shall receive one free hunting license, one free trapping license, one specified free Deer Hunting Permit, and one free State Habitat Stamp if the military member applies within 2 years of active duty service. Provides that hunting license fees for all resident veterans, regardless of deployment, shall be one-half of the current license fee amount. Effective immediately. LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB3493 Introduced , by Rep. David Friess SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 20 ILCS 835/4d new520 ILCS 5/3.1-4 520 ILCS 5/3.2 from Ch. 61, par. 3.2 20 ILCS 835/4d new 520 ILCS 5/3.1-4 520 ILCS 5/3.2 from Ch. 61, par. 3.2 20 ILCS 835/4d new 520 ILCS 5/3.1-4 520 ILCS 5/3.2 from Ch. 61, par. 3.2 Amends the State Parks Act. Requires all persons or entities seeking to charge fees to participants, provide items for sale, or otherwise collect money or items as part of an event located on property or facilities that are owned, leased, or managed by the Department of Natural Resources to complete a permit to sell application form to obtain a permit to sell. Provides that all revenue generated from an event shall be subject to a 10% fee payable to the Department of Natural Resources upon completion of the event. Requires all funds received by the Department to be allocated to the site at which the fees were collected. Waives activity permit fees, permit to sell fees, the 10% facility fees, and facility usage fees for formally recognized Friends Groups and for all fishing tournaments and clubs. Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that resident military members returning from active duty, regardless of mobilization or deployment, shall receive one free hunting license, one free trapping license, one specified free Deer Hunting Permit, and one free State Habitat Stamp if the military member applies within 2 years of active duty service. Provides that hunting license fees for all resident veterans, regardless of deployment, shall be one-half of the current license fee amount. Effective immediately. LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b A BILL FOR HB3493LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b HB3493 LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b HB3493 LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b 1 AN ACT concerning the Department of Natural Resources. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The State Parks Act is amended by adding 5 Section 4d as follows: 6 (20 ILCS 835/4d new) 7 Sec. 4d. Permit to sell. All persons or entities seeking 8 to charge fees to participants, provide items for sale, or 9 otherwise collect money or items as part of an event located on 10 property or facilities that are owned, leased, or managed by 11 the Department of Natural Resources shall complete a permit to 12 sell application form to obtain a permit to sell. All revenue 13 generated from an event located on property or facilities that 14 are owned, leased, or managed by the Department of Natural 15 Resources shall be subject to a 10% fee payable to the 16 Department upon completion of the event. An activity permit 17 application fee, not to exceed $25, may be deducted from the 18 permit to sell fees owed to the Department upon the completion 19 of the event. All funds received by the Department shall be 20 allocated to the site at which the fees were collected. 21 Activity permit fees, permit to sell fees, the 10% facility 22 fee, and facility usage fees shall be waived: (1) if the entity 23 is a formally recognized Friends Group of the site at which the 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB3493 Introduced , by Rep. David Friess SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 20 ILCS 835/4d new520 ILCS 5/3.1-4 520 ILCS 5/3.2 from Ch. 61, par. 3.2 20 ILCS 835/4d new 520 ILCS 5/3.1-4 520 ILCS 5/3.2 from Ch. 61, par. 3.2 20 ILCS 835/4d new 520 ILCS 5/3.1-4 520 ILCS 5/3.2 from Ch. 61, par. 3.2 Amends the State Parks Act. Requires all persons or entities seeking to charge fees to participants, provide items for sale, or otherwise collect money or items as part of an event located on property or facilities that are owned, leased, or managed by the Department of Natural Resources to complete a permit to sell application form to obtain a permit to sell. Provides that all revenue generated from an event shall be subject to a 10% fee payable to the Department of Natural Resources upon completion of the event. Requires all funds received by the Department to be allocated to the site at which the fees were collected. Waives activity permit fees, permit to sell fees, the 10% facility fees, and facility usage fees for formally recognized Friends Groups and for all fishing tournaments and clubs. Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that resident military members returning from active duty, regardless of mobilization or deployment, shall receive one free hunting license, one free trapping license, one specified free Deer Hunting Permit, and one free State Habitat Stamp if the military member applies within 2 years of active duty service. Provides that hunting license fees for all resident veterans, regardless of deployment, shall be one-half of the current license fee amount. Effective immediately. LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b A BILL FOR 20 ILCS 835/4d new 520 ILCS 5/3.1-4 520 ILCS 5/3.2 from Ch. 61, par. 3.2 LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b HB3493 LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b HB3493- 2 -LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b HB3493 - 2 - LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b HB3493 - 2 - LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b 1 event is held, and (2) for all fishing tournaments and clubs. 2 Section 10. The Wildlife Code is amended by changing 3 Sections 3.1-4 and 3.2 as follows: 4 (520 ILCS 5/3.1-4) 5 Sec. 3.1-4. Military members returning from active duty 6 service mobilization and service outside the United States. 7 (a) After returning from service abroad or mobilization by 8 the President of the United States as an active duty member of 9 the United States Armed Forces, the Illinois National Guard, 10 or the Reserves of the United States Armed Forces, an Illinois 11 resident may hunt and trap any of the species protected by 12 Section 2.2 of this Code without paying any fees required to 13 obtain a hunting license or a trapping license for the time 14 period prescribed by subsection (b) of this Section if the 15 Illinois resident applies for a license within 2 years after 16 returning from service abroad or mobilization. The applicant 17 shall provide acceptable verification of service or 18 mobilization to the Department. The Department shall establish 19 by administrative rule the procedure by which such 20 verification of service shall be made to the Department for 21 the purpose of issuing a license. 22 (b) Applicants For each year that an applicant served as 23 an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, the 24 Illinois National Guard, or the Reserves of the United States HB3493 - 2 - LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b HB3493- 3 -LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b HB3493 - 3 - LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b HB3493 - 3 - LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b 1 Armed Forces and served abroad or was mobilized by the 2 President of the United States pursuant to subsection (a) of 3 this Section, the applicant shall receive one free hunting 4 license, one free trapping license, one free Deer Hunting 5 Permit as provided in Section 2.26 of this Code and rules 6 adopted pursuant to that Section, and one free State Habitat 7 Stamp. For the purposes of this determination, if the period 8 of active duty is a portion of a year (for example, one year 9 and 3 months), the applicant will be credited with a full year 10 for the portion of a year served. 11 (c) (Blank). 12 (c-5) An Illinois resident veteran may obtain an Illinois 13 Hunter Education card if the veteran he or she completes the 14 online study section of the Illinois Hunter Education program 15 and provides the Department with acceptable verification of 16 service or mobilization. 17 (d) For the purposes of this Section, "acceptable 18 verification of service or mobilization" means official 19 documentation from the Department of Defense or the 20 appropriate Major Command showing mobilization dates of or 21 service abroad dates, including: (i) a DD-214, (ii) a letter 22 from the Illinois Department of Military Affairs for members 23 of the Illinois National Guard, (iii) a letter from the 24 Regional Reserve Command for members of the Armed Forces 25 Reserve, (iv) a letter from the Major Command covering 26 Illinois for active duty members, (v) personnel records for HB3493 - 3 - LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b HB3493- 4 -LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b HB3493 - 4 - LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b HB3493 - 4 - LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b 1 mobilized State employees, and (vi) any other documentation 2 that the Department, by administrative rule, deems acceptable 3 to establish dates of mobilization or service abroad. 4 (e) (Blank). For the purposes of this Section, the term 5 "service abroad" means active duty service outside of the 50 6 United States and the District of Columbia, and includes all 7 active duty service in territories and possessions of the 8 United States. 9 (Source: P.A. 102-524, eff. 8-20-21; 102-780, eff. 5-13-22.) 10 (520 ILCS 5/3.2) (from Ch. 61, par. 3.2) 11 Sec. 3.2. Hunting license; application; instruction. 12 Before the Department or any county, city, village, township, 13 incorporated town clerk or his duly designated agent or any 14 other person authorized or designated by the Department to 15 issue hunting licenses shall issue a hunting license to any 16 person, the person shall file his application with the 17 Department or other party authorized to issue licenses on a 18 form provided by the Department and further give definite 19 proof of identity and place of legal residence. Each clerk 20 designating agents to issue licenses and stamps shall furnish 21 the Department, within 10 days following the appointment, the 22 names and mailing addresses of the agents. Each clerk or his 23 duly designated agent shall be authorized to sell licenses and 24 stamps only within the territorial area for which he was 25 elected or appointed. No duly designated agent is authorized HB3493 - 4 - LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b HB3493- 5 -LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b HB3493 - 5 - LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b HB3493 - 5 - LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b 1 to furnish licenses or stamps for issuance by any other 2 business establishment. Each application shall be executed and 3 sworn to and shall set forth the name and description of the 4 applicant and place of residence. 5 No hunting license shall be issued to any person born on or 6 after January 1, 1980 unless he presents the person authorized 7 to issue the license evidence that he has held a hunting 8 license issued by the State of Illinois or another state in a 9 prior year, or a certificate of competency as provided in this 10 Section. Persons under 18 years of age may be issued a Lifetime 11 Hunting or Sportsmen's Combination License as provided under 12 Section 20-45 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code but shall not 13 be entitled to hunt alone, without the supervision of an adult 14 age 21 or older, unless they have a certificate of competency 15 as provided in this Section and the certificate is in their 16 possession while hunting. 17 The Department of Natural Resources shall authorize 18 personnel of the Department or certified volunteer instructors 19 to conduct courses, of not less than 10 hours in length, in 20 firearms and hunter safety, which may include training in bow 21 and arrow safety, at regularly specified intervals throughout 22 the State. Persons successfully completing the course shall 23 receive a certificate of competency. The Department of Natural 24 Resources may further cooperate with any reputable association 25 or organization in establishing courses if the organization 26 has as one of its objectives the promotion of safety in the HB3493 - 5 - LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b HB3493- 6 -LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b HB3493 - 6 - LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b HB3493 - 6 - LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b 1 handling of firearms or bow and arrow. 2 The Department of Natural Resources shall designate any 3 person found by it to be competent to give instruction in the 4 handling of firearms, hunter safety, and bow and arrow. The 5 persons so appointed shall give the course of instruction and 6 upon the successful completion shall issue to the person 7 instructed a certificate of competency in the safe handling of 8 firearms, hunter safety, and bow and arrow. No charge shall be 9 made for any course of instruction except for materials or 10 ammunition consumed. The Department of Natural Resources shall 11 furnish information on the requirements of hunter safety 12 education programs to be distributed free of charge to 13 applicants for hunting licenses by the persons appointed and 14 authorized to issue licenses. Funds for the conducting of 15 firearms and hunter safety courses shall be taken from the fee 16 charged for the Firearm Owners Identification Card. 17 The fee for a hunting license to hunt all species for a 18 resident of Illinois is $12. For residents age 65 or older and 19 , and, commencing with the 2012 license year, resident 20 veterans of the United States Armed Forces, regardless of 21 deployment, after returning from service abroad or 22 mobilization by the President of the United States as an 23 active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, the 24 Illinois National Guard, or the Reserves of the United States 25 Armed Forces, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a 26 hunting license to hunt all species for a resident of HB3493 - 6 - LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b HB3493- 7 -LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b HB3493 - 7 - LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b HB3493 - 7 - LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b 1 Illinois. Veterans must provide to the Department acceptable 2 verification of their service. The Department shall establish 3 by administrative rule the procedure by which such 4 verification of service shall be made to the Department for 5 the purpose of issuing resident veterans hunting licenses at a 6 reduced fee. The fee for a hunting license to hunt all species 7 shall be $1 for residents over 75 years of age. Nonresidents 8 shall be charged $57 for a hunting license. 9 Nonresidents may be issued a nonresident hunting license 10 for a period not to exceed 10 consecutive days' hunting in the 11 State and shall be charged a fee of $35. 12 A special nonresident hunting license authorizing a 13 nonresident to take game birds by hunting on a game breeding 14 and hunting preserve area only, established under Section 15 3.27, shall be issued upon proper application being made and 16 payment of a fee equal to that for a resident hunting license. 17 The expiration date of this license shall be on the same date 18 each year that game breeding and hunting preserve area 19 licenses expire. 20 Each applicant for a State Migratory Waterfowl Stamp, 21 regardless of his residence or other condition, shall pay a 22 fee of $15 and shall receive a stamp. The fee for a State 23 Migratory Waterfowl Stamp shall be waived for residents over 24 75 years of age. Except as provided under Section 20-45 of the 25 Fish and Aquatic Life Code, the stamp shall be signed by the 26 person or affixed to his license or permit in a space HB3493 - 7 - LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b HB3493- 8 -LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b HB3493 - 8 - LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b HB3493 - 8 - LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b 1 designated by the Department for that purpose. 2 Each applicant for a State Habitat Stamp, regardless of 3 his residence or other condition, shall pay a fee of $5 and 4 shall receive a stamp. The fee for a State Habitat Stamp shall 5 be waived for residents over 75 years of age. Except as 6 provided under Section 20-45 of the Fish and Aquatic Life 7 Code, the stamp shall be signed by the person or affixed to his 8 license or permit in a space designated by the Department for 9 that purpose. 10 Nothing in this Section shall be construed as to require 11 the purchase of more than one State Habitat Stamp by any person 12 in any one license year. 13 The fees for State Pheasant Stamps and State Furbearer 14 Stamps shall be waived for residents over 75 years of age. 15 The Department shall furnish the holders of hunting 16 licenses and stamps with an insignia as evidence of possession 17 of license, or license and stamp, as the Department may 18 consider advisable. The insignia shall be exhibited and used 19 as the Department may order. 20 All other hunting licenses and all State stamps shall 21 expire upon March 31 of each year. 22 Every person holding any license, permit, or stamp issued 23 under the provisions of this Act shall have it in his 24 possession for immediate presentation for inspection to the 25 officers and authorized employees of the Department, any 26 sheriff, deputy sheriff, or any other peace officer making a HB3493 - 8 - LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b HB3493- 9 -LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b HB3493 - 9 - LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b HB3493 - 9 - LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b 1 demand for it. This provision shall not apply to Department 2 owned or managed sites where it is required that all hunters 3 deposit their license, permit, or Firearm Owner's 4 Identification Card at the check station upon entering the 5 hunting areas. 6 For the purposes of this Section, "acceptable 7 verification" means official documentation from the Department 8 of Defense or the appropriate Major Command showing 9 mobilization dates or service abroad dates, including: (i) a 10 DD-214, (ii) a letter from the Illinois Department of Military 11 Affairs for members of the Illinois National Guard, (iii) a 12 letter from the Regional Reserve Command for members of the 13 Armed Forces Reserve, (iv) a letter from the Major Command 14 covering Illinois for active duty members, (v) personnel 15 records for mobilized State employees, and (vi) any other 16 documentation that the Department, by administrative rule, 17 deems acceptable to establish dates of mobilization or service 18 abroad. 19 For the purposes of this Section, the term "service 20 abroad" means active duty service outside of the 50 United 21 States and the District of Columbia, and includes all active 22 duty service in territories and possessions of the United 23 States. 24 (Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 102-780, eff. 5-13-22.) 25 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 26 becoming law. HB3493 - 9 - LRB103 26990 RLC 53357 b