Bill Text: IL HB2924 | 2013-2014 | 98th General Assembly | Amended

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Bill Title: Amends the Animal Welfare Act. Defines "animal", "animal rescue group", "kill shelter", "no kill", "guardian", "pet", "biological supply facility", and "medical necessity". Requires certain disclosures to be made by animal shelters, animal control facilities, and animal rescue groups. Provides that any guardian who has brought his or her pet to an animal shelter, animal control facility, or animal rescue group may redeem the pet if the animal shelter, animal control facility, or animal rescue group decides that the pet is not adoptable and shall be put down for reasons other than medical necessity. Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to issue fines for violation of the Act. Provides that injunctive relief shall be available to correct violations of the Act. Classifies individuals with standing to bring a civil suit against animal shelters, animal control facilities, and animal rescue groups and provides that a pet owner, guardian, or person who is successful in obtaining a judgment or a settlement shall be entitled to reasonable attorney's fees. Makes corresponding changes to provisions concerning licensing of certain animal businesses; adoption of dogs and cats; release of animals to shelters; and information on dogs and cats available for adoption by an animal shelter or animal control facility.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10)

Status: (Failed) 2014-12-03 - Session Sine Die [HB2924 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2013-HB2924-Amended.html

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Rep. Laura Fine

Filed: 3/19/2013

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AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 2924
AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 2924 by replacing
everything after the enacting clause with the following:
"Section 5. The Animal Welfare Act is amended by adding
Sections 3.6, 20.6, 20.7, and 21.5 as follows:
(225 ILCS 605/3.6 new)
Sec. 3.6. Public information required. Every animal
shelter and animal control facility shall make all of the
following disclosures on their website, if they have a website,
and on a conspicuous sign in a prominent place in plain view of
the public using the facility the following preceding year
numbers on the number of:
(1) dogs and cats taken in, adopted out, and
euthanized;
(2) dogs and cats found dead in the animal shelter or
animal control facility;

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(3) dogs and cats that were transferred to other animal
shelters or animal rescue groups; and
(4) animals by species received from seizures
involving violations of the Criminal Code of 2012 or the
Humane Care for Animals Act, and the number of seized
animals by species adopted out, transferred, or
euthanized.
(225 ILCS 605/20.6 new)
Sec. 20.6. Disclosures required. An animal shelter or
animal control facility may charge a fee to persons
surrendering their animals.
Every animal shelter and animal control facility shall, on
its surrender forms, include a place that can be checked with a
place for a phone number and email address where the person
surrendering the dog or cat can be reached if the dog or cat is
scheduled for euthanasia. The agent receiving the dog or cat
shall orally ask the person surrendering the dog or cat if they
want to be notified if the dog or cat is scheduled for
euthanasia, and if they do want to be notified, the agent shall
show the person where to fill in their contact information.
Two business days prior to the scheduled euthanasia of the
dog or cat, the person who surrendered the dog or cat and who
requested to be notified shall be contacted by email or phone.
If the person who surrendered the animal requests the return of
the animal, then the animal shelter or animal control facility

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may return the animal to the person who surrendered the dog or
cat and charge an adoption fee.
If an animal shelter or animal control facility intends to
euthanize the dog or cat on the same day it is surrendered, the
animal shelter or animal control facility agent must orally
inform the person surrendering the animal that it shall be
euthanized that day and have the person surrendering the dog or
cat sign an acknowledgement of probable euthanasia disposition
form. This form shall be attached to the written surrender
form.
For animals surrendered by the owner to the animal shelter,
ownership of the animal immediately vests in the animal
shelter.
(225 ILCS 605/20.7 new)
Sec. 20.7. Refusal to adopt or transfer a dog or cat. An
animal shelter or animal control facility may not refuse to
adopt or transfer a dog or cat based solely on the animal's
age, breed, type, breed mix, appearance, or size.
(225 ILCS 605/21.5 new)
Sec. 21.5. Home rule. This law shall apply to all animal
shelters and animal control facilities operating in the State.
This Section is a limitation of home rule powers and functions
under subsection (h) of Section 6 of Article VII of the
Illinois Constitution.

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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January
1, 2014.".