If I were a newly elected state legislator, I would want my first bill to be something memorable in a positive light—probably dealing with babies or the elderly. That way when I was up for re-election, I could proudly include the information on my campaign literature with a cute picture of me with an old person or toddler. I would want a lot of co-sponsors so I could show how my fellow legislators jumped on my band wagon. Not so with Illinois State Rep. Norine Hammond (R-Macomb) who solely sponsored and passed her first bill out of the Illinois House last week.
Her legislation, House Bill 3178, if then passed by the Illinois Senate, would allow people to collect the bodies of fur-bearing mammals found dead on the road. Not just any dead animal anytime but a person would need a permit and it would have to be during “road kill” season.
HB 3178 Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that a person who possesses an appropriate license, stamp, or permit for fur-bearing mammals and the season for the species is open, shall be able to take or possess a fur-bearing mammal that is found dead or unintentionally killed by a vehicle along a roadway. Effective immediately.
According to Hammond’s web page,“There were a lot of laughs when I brought the so called ‘roadkill’ bill before the Illinois House,” said Rep. Hammond. “All joking aside, this legislation was brought to me by a former conservation officer who suggested the changes in law to solve a couple of problems. Pelts and furs of deceased animals along the roadway will not go to waste, and roadkill on our streets will hopefully be picked up quicker without costing additional taxpayer dollars.”
So while Illinois is billions of dollars in debt and legislators have to figure out a way to get out of the morass, Hammond has figured out that the way to save the state money is to allow citizens to clean the highways and by-ways of dead animals.
How sad that Illinois
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