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91_SB0163enr SB163 Enrolled LRB9102634DHmg 1 AN ACT concerning recreational hunting and trapping. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Department of Natural Resources Act is 5 amended by changing Section 1-15 as follows: 6 (20 ILCS 801/1-15) 7 Sec. 1-15. General powers and duties. 8 (a) It shall be the duty of the Department to 9 investigate practical problems, implement studies, conduct 10 research and provide assistance, information and data 11 relating to the technology and administration of the natural 12 history, entomology, zoology, and botany of this State; the 13 geology and natural resources of this State; the water and 14 atmospheric resources of this State; and the archeological 15 and cultural history of this State. 16 (b) The Department shall obtain, store, and process 17 relevant data; recommend technological, administrative, and 18 legislative changes and developments; cooperate with other 19 federal, state, and local governmental research agencies, 20 facilities, or institutes in the selection of projects for 21 study; cooperate with the Board of Higher Education and with 22 the public and private colleges and universities in this 23 State in developing relevant interdisciplinary approaches to 24 problems; evaluate curricula at all levels of education and 25 provide assistance to instructors; and sponsor an annual 26 conference of leaders in government, industry, health, and 27 education to evaluate the state of this State's environment 28 and natural resources. 29 (c) The Director, in accordance with the Personnel Code, 30 shall employ such personnel, provide such facilities, and 31 contract for such outside services as may be necessary to SB163 Enrolled -2- LRB9102634DHmg 1 carry out the purposes of the Department. Maximum use shall 2 be made of existing federal and state agencies, facilities, 3 and personnel in conducting research under this Act. 4 (d) In addition to its other powers, the Department has 5 the following powers: 6 (1) To obtain, store, process, and provide data and 7 information related to the powers and duties of the 8 Department under this Act. This subdivision (d)(1) does 9 not give authority to the Department to require reports 10 from nongovernmental sources or entities. 11 (2) To cooperate with and support the Illinois 12Governor'sScience and Technology Advisory Committee and 13 the Illinois Coalition for the purpose of facilitating 14 the effective operations and activities of such entities. 15 Support may include, but need not be limited to, 16 providing space for the operations of the Committee and 17 the Illinois Coalition. 18 (e) The Department is authorized to make grants to local 19 not-for-profit organizations for the purposes of development, 20 maintenance and study of wetland areas. 21 (f) The Department has the authority to accept, receive 22 and administer on behalf of the State any gifts, bequests, 23 donations, income from property rental and endowments. Any 24 such funds received by the Department shall be deposited into 25 the Natural Resources Fund, a special fund which is hereby 26 created in the State treasury, and used for the purposes of 27 this Act or, when appropriate, for such purposes and under 28 such restrictions, terms and conditions as are predetermined 29 by the donor or grantor of such funds or property. Any 30 accrued interest from money deposited into the Natural 31 Resources Fund shall be reinvested into the Fund and used in 32 the same manner as the principal. The Director shall maintain 33 records which account for and assure that restricted funds or 34 property are disbursed or used pursuant to the restrictions, SB163 Enrolled -3- LRB9102634DHmg 1 terms or conditions of the donor. 2 (g) The Department shall recognize, preserve, and 3 promote our special heritage of recreational hunting and 4 trapping by providing opportunities to hunt and trap in 5 accordance with the Wildlife Code. 6 (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96; revised 12-2-98.) 7 Section 10. The Wildlife Code is amended by changing 8 Section 3.8 as follows: 9 (520 ILCS 5/3.8) (from Ch. 61, par. 3.8) 10 Sec. 3.8. Migratory waterfowl areas; geese. 11 (a) On any property operated under a Migratory Waterfowl 12 Hunting Area Permit (Commercial) where the principal use is 13 to take wild geese, it is the permit holder's duty to ensure 14 all of the following but only during Canada goose season: 15 (1) That no person takes wild geese except from a 16 blind or pit. 17 (2) That no person establishes or uses any blind or 18 pit for the taking of wild geese within 200 yards of any 19 other blind or pit or within 100 yards of the boundary of 20 the property on which the blind or pit is located. 21 (3) That no person establishes or uses any blind or 22 pit for the taking of wild geese within 200 yards of any 23 wildlife refuge boundary or public road right-of-way 24 adjacent to any State or Federal waterfowl refuge. If a 25 blind or pit has been established for more than 10 years 26 and it was believed by both the landowner and the 27 Department during that time to meet the minimum yardage 28 requirements of this paragraph (3), then the blind or pit 29 may remain in place even though a survey or other 30 evidence may indicate that the minimum yardage 31 requirements are not met. 32 (b) On any property where the principal use is to take SB163 Enrolled -4- LRB9102634DHmg 1 wild geese in Alexander, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Union 2 and Williamson Counties, other than property operated under a 3 Migratory Waterfowl Hunting Area Permit (Commercial), all of 4 the following restrictions shall be observed but only during 5 Canada goose season: 6 (1) No person may take wild geese except from a 7 blind or pit and it shall be illegal to take or attempt 8 to take geese from the base of standing timber except 9 when immediately adjacent to an open field. 10 (2) No person may establish or use a blind or pit 11 within 100 yards of the boundary of the property on which 12 the blind or pit is located unless the minimum yardage 13 requirement cannot be met, in which case one pit or blind 14 may be permitted only if there is a minimum of 200 yards 15 between that pit or blind and the nearest pit or blind. 16 (3) No person may establish or use a blind or pit 17 for the taking of wild geese within 200 yards of any 18 wildlife refuge boundary or public road right-of-way 19 adjacent to any State or Federal waterfowl refuge. If a 20 blind or pit has been established for more than 10 years 21 and it was believed by both the landowner and the 22 Department during that time to meet the minimum yardage 23 requirements of this paragraph (3), then the blind or pit 24 may remain in place even though a survey or other 25 evidence may indicate that the minimum yardage 26 requirements are not met. 27 (4) No more than the number of persons allowed by 28 administrative rule may occupy or attempt to take wild 29 geese from any blind or pit at the same time. 30 (Source: P.A. 90-435, eff. 1-1-98.) SB163 Enrolled -5- LRB9102634DHmg 1 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 2 becoming law.