Bill Text: IL HB2981 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that in a prosecution of a case involving the injury, health, or safety of an animal, the court may, on its own motion or motion of any party, appoint a special advocate to assist the court, as deemed appropriate by the court, and represent the interests of justice regarding the health or safety of the animal. Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois Department of Agriculture Law. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall compile a list comprised of pro bono attorneys and law students from each county who may serve as special advocates for these cases.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2019-01-08 - Session Sine Die [HB2981 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2017-HB2981-Introduced.html

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100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2017 and 2018 HB2981 Introduced , by Rep. Daniel J. Burke SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
20 ILCS 205/205-203 new
725 ILCS 5/Art. 113A heading new
725 ILCS 5/113A-1 new
Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that in a prosecution of a case involving the injury, health, or safety of an animal, the court may, on its own motion or motion of any party, appoint a special advocate to assist the court, as deemed appropriate by the court, and represent the interests of justice regarding the health or safety of the animal. Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois Department of Agriculture Law. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall compile a list comprised of pro bono attorneys and law students from each county who may serve as special advocates for these cases.
LRB100 10913 SLF 21149 b
A BILL FOR
HB2981 LRB100 10913 SLF 21149 b
AN ACT concerning special advocates in animal cases.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Department of Agriculture Law of the Civil
Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section
205-203 as follows:
(20 ILCS 205/205-203 new)
Sec. 205-203. Compilation of special advocates for animal
cases. The Department of Agriculture shall compile a list of
pro bono attorneys and law students from each county who may
serve as special advocates in the prosecution of cases
involving the injury, health, or safety of an animal as
provided in Section 113A-1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of
1963. For the purposes of this Section, "law student" means a
law student licensed under Supreme Court Rule 711 or attached
to a legal aid bureau, legal assistance program, organization,
or clinic chartered by this State or approved by a law school
approved by the American Bar Association.
Section 10. The Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 is
amended by adding the heading of Article 113A and Section
113A-1 as follows:

HB2981 - 2 - LRB100 10913 SLF 21149 b
(725 ILCS 5/Art. 113A heading new)
ARTICLE 113A.
SPECIAL ADVOCATES
(725 ILCS 5/113A-1 new)
Sec. 113A-1. Special advocates. In a prosecution of a case
involving the injury, health, or safety of an animal, the court
may, on its own motion or motion of any party, appoint a
special advocate to assist the court, as deemed appropriate by
the court, and represent the interests of justice regarding the
health or safety of the animal. If the court appoints a special
advocate in the case, the court may consult with a list of pro
bono attorneys and law students compiled by the Department of
Agriculture for that purpose.