(30 ILCS 155/1)

(from Ch. 61, par. 401)

Sec. 1.

This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Illinois Non‑Game Wildlife Protection Act".

(Source: P.A. 83‑406.)

(30 ILCS 155/2)

(from Ch. 61, par. 402)

Sec. 2.

Legislative declaration.

The General Assembly hereby declares that wildlife species which are not commonly pursued, killed, or consumed either for sport or profit, referred to in this Act as "non‑game wildlife" have need of special protection and that it is in the public interest to preserve, protect, perpetuate, and enhance non‑game wildlife and native plant resources of this State through preservation of a satisfactory environment and an ecological balance. The General Assembly specifically recognizes that such non‑game wildlife includes protected wildlife and wildlife of specialized habitats, both terrestrial and aquatic types, and mollusks, crustaceans, and other invertebrates under the jurisdiction of the Department of Natural Resources. This Act is enacted to provide a means by which such protection may be financed through a voluntary check‑off designation on State income tax return forms. The intent of the General Assembly is that this program of the income tax check‑off is supplemental to any funding and in no way is intended to take the place of the funding that would otherwise be appropriated for this purpose.

(Source: P.A. 89‑445, eff. 2‑7‑96.)

(30 ILCS 155/3)

(from Ch. 61, par. 403)

Sec. 3.

Each individual taxpayer required to file a return pursuant to the Illinois Income Tax Act desiring to contribute to The Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund may do so by stating the amount of such contribution (not less than $1) on such return. This Section shall not apply to an amended return.

(Source: P.A. 88‑130.)

(30 ILCS 155/4)

(from Ch. 61, par. 404)

Sec. 4.

(a) There is created the Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund, a special fund in the State Treasury. The Department of Revenue shall determine annually the total amount contributed to such fund pursuant to this Act and shall notify the State Comptroller and the State Treasurer of such amount to be transferred to the Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund, and upon receipt of such notification the State Comptroller shall transfer such amount.

(b) The Department of Natural Resources shall deposit any donations including federal reimbursements received for the purposes in the Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund.

(c) The General Assembly may appropriate annually from the Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund such monies credited to such fund from the check‑off contribution system provided in this Act and from other funds received for the purposes of this Act, to the Department of Natural Resources to be used for the purposes of preserving, protecting, perpetuating and enhancing non‑game wildlife in this State. Beginning with fiscal year 2006, 5% of the Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund must be committed to or expended on grants by the Department of Natural Resources for the maintenance of wildlife rehabilitation facilities that take care of threatened or endangered species. For purposes of calculating the 5%, the amount in the Fund is exclusive of any federal funds deposited in or credited to the Fund. The Department shall establish criteria for the grants by rules adopted in accordance with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act before January 1, 2006. However, no amount appropriated from the Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund may be used by the Department of Natural Resources to exercise its power of eminent domain.

(Source: P.A. 94‑516, eff. 8‑10‑05.)