Bill Text: IL SB1883 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Enrolled

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Creates the Wild Animal Public Safety Act. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, it is unlawful for any person to allow any member of the public to come into direct contact with a bear or nonhuman primate. Defines "direct contact" as the physical contact or proximity where physical contact is possible, including, but not limited to, any proximity without a permanent physical barrier or sufficient vertical height designed to prevent physical contact between the public and the bear or nonhuman primate. Provides that a violation is a Class B misdemeanor. Provides exceptions. Provides that any law enforcement officer or peace officer employed by the State or by any county or municipality within the State may enforce the provisions of this Act. Provides that the Attorney General, or a State's Attorney of the county in which a violation of the Act occurred, may bring an action in the name of the People of the State of Illinois to enforce the provisions of the Act, and may bring an action for an injunction to restrain any actual or threatened violation. Contains a severability provision.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-06-30 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 103-0239 [SB1883 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SB1883-Enrolled.html



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1 AN ACT concerning criminal law.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Wild
5Animal Public Safety Act.
6 Section 5. Definitions. In this Act:
7 "Covered animal" means any live member of the following,
8or any hybrid of the following:
9 (1) Bear.
10 (2) Nonhuman primate.
11 "Direct contact" means physical contact or proximity where
12physical contact is possible, including, but not limited to,
13any proximity without a permanent physical barrier or
14sufficient vertical height designed to prevent physical
15contact between the public and a covered animal.
16 "Professional production crew" means a cast or crew member
17of a television or motion picture production team that has
18obtained permits as required by law, and includes a
19professional photographer, videographer, or cinematographer.
20 Section 10. Prohibition. Notwithstanding any other
21provision of law to the contrary, it is unlawful for any person
22to allow any member of the public to come into direct contact

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1with a covered animal.
2 Section 15. Nonapplication of Act. This Act does not
3apply to direct contact between a covered animal and any of the
4following:
5 (1) The owner of the covered animal.
6 (2) The owner of the facility in which the specified
7 animal is kept.
8 (3) A trained professional employee or contractor of
9 the owner of the covered animal or facility (or an
10 accompanying employee receiving professional training),
11 while acting in the course and scope of official duty.
12 (4) A licensed veterinarian, a veterinary student
13 accompanying such a veterinarian, or a registered
14 veterinary technician under the direct or indirect
15 supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
16 (5) A law enforcement officer or animal control
17 authority acting in the course and scope of official duty.
18 (6) An employee of a federal, State, or local agency,
19 while acting in the course and scope of the person's
20 official duty.
21 (7) A board member of the facility where the animal is
22 kept, a trainee, service provider, or professional
23 production crew which:
24 (A) is accompanied by the facility's owner or
25 trained employee;

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1 (B) is performing work with the specified animal
2 away from public view; and
3 (C) is under a contract or other engagement with
4 the facility's owner.
5 Section 20. Penalty. Any person who violates the
6provisions of this Act is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
7 Section 25. Enforcement. Any law enforcement officer or
8peace officer employed by this State or by any county or
9municipality within this State may enforce the provisions of
10this Act. The Attorney General, or a State's Attorney of the
11county in which a violation of this Act occurred, may bring an
12action in the name of the People of the State of Illinois to
13enforce the provisions of this Act, and may bring an action for
14an injunction to restrain any actual or threatened violation.
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