(225 ILCS 655/4) (from Ch. 111, par. 504)

Sec. 4. Application for registration - Financial statement - Surety bond. An application for registration shall be made in writing to the Department, on forms prescribed by the Department. Any such application shall require such information, including a financial statement, as in the judgment of the Department will enable the Department to pass on the qualifications of the applicant.

A slaughter livestock buyer may be exempt from filing a financial statement with the Department if such slaughter livestock buyer files a bond under provisions as otherwise provided in this Act or certifies that payment will be made for livestock purchased with cash or its equivalent prior to movement of the livestock from the point of purchase.

An applicant for registration as a slaughter livestock buyer who elects to file a surety bond shall file a bond in the form as shall be prescribed by the Department. The bond shall specifically provide that the slaughter livestock buyer shall pay when due, to the person or persons entitled thereto, the purchase price of all livestock purchased by said slaughter livestock buyer. The surety on any such bond shall be a surety company authorized to do business within the State of Illinois. The amount of such bond shall be not less than the nearest multiple of $2,000 above the average amount of livestock purchases by such slaughter livestock buyer for 3 business days, based on the total number of business days, and the total amount of such livestock purchases in the preceding 12 months, or in such part thereof in which such slaughter livestock buyer did business, if any. For the purpose of this computation, 260 days shall be deemed the number of business days in the year. However, the amount of the bond shall not be less than $6,000, and when the bond requirements exceed $50,000, the amount of the bond shall be $50,000 plus 15% of any amount in excess of $50,000. Whenever there has been a change in the gross amount of business transacted during the 12-month period prior to the renewal of any registration which would warrant an increase or decrease in the amount of bond coverage required under this Act, the slaughter livestock buyer shall have his bond adjusted accordingly upon receipt of notice to that effect. If desired, a slaughter livestock buyer may furnish a blanket bond, based upon the gross amount of business transacted on an annual basis by each enterprise operated under the same ownership, in lieu of individual bonds for each enterprise operated. Such bond shall be continuous in nature and shall provide that it may not be cancelled without 30 days written notice of termination to the Department prior to the effective day of such termination. In cases where a slaughter livestock buyer under this Act has a bond on file with the United States Department of Agriculture, Packers and Stockyards, Agricultural Marketing Service, or any successor agency, and such bond is in an amount and conditioned upon such terms so as to meet the requirements of this Act, separate bond coverage under this Act is not required. In any case where an applicant has sufficient bond posted with the United States Department of Agriculture, Packers and Stockyards, Agricultural Marketing Service, or any successor agency, to satisfy the provisions of this Act, a duplicate original of such bond shall be furnished to the Department and such bond shall replace the State bond as if it were the State bond.

In lieu of filing such bond, the slaughter livestock buyer may deliver to the Department the receipt of a duly authorized bank, savings and loan association or trust company in his state showing the deposit with the bank, savings and loan association or trust company of cash or of securities endorsed in blank by the owner thereof and of a market value equal at least to the required principal amount of such bond, such cash or securities to be deposited in escrow under agreement conditioned as in the case of such bond. An action for recovery against any such deposit may be brought in the same manner as in the case of an action for recovery on a bond filed hereunder. Any such receipt shall further be accompanied by evidence that there are no unsatisfied judgments against the slaughter livestock buyer of record in the county where said slaughter livestock buyer resides.

(Source: P.A. 83-541.)