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91_SB1834
LRB9108027DJcsE
1 AN ACT to amend the Illinois Dangerous Animals Act by
2 changing Sections 0.1, 1, and 2 and adding Section 3.100.
3 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
4 represented in the General Assembly:
5 Section 5. The Illinois Dangerous Animals Act is amended
6 by changing Sections 0.1, 1, and 2 and adding Section 3.100
7 as follows:
8 (720 ILCS 585/0.1) (from Ch. 8, par. 240)
9 Sec. 0.1. As used in this Act, unless the context
10 otherwise requires:
11 "Dangerous animal" means a lion, tiger, leopard, ocelot,
12 jaguar, cheetah, margay, mountain lion, lynx, bobcat,
13 jaguarundi, bear, hyena, wolf or coyote, or any poisonous or
14 life-threatening reptile. "Dangerous animal" also means (i)
15 the offspring of a wolf or coyote and a domesticated dog and
16 (ii) non-human primates as defined by regulations adopted
17 pursuant to the federal Animal Welfare Act.
18 "Owner" means any person who (a) has a right of property
19 in a dangerous animal, (b) keeps or harbors a dangerous
20 animal, (c) has a dangerous animal in his care, or (d) acts
21 as custodian of a dangerous animal.
22 "Person" means any individual, firm, association,
23 partnership, corporation, or other legal entity, any public
24 or private institution, the State of Illinois, or any
25 municipal corporation or political subdivision of the State.
26 "Poisonous or life-threatening reptile" includes any
27 venomous reptile, any constricting snake capable of causing
28 injury to an infant or child, any member of the crocodilia
29 family, and any reptile recognized to be a carrier of any
30 life-threatening disease.
31 (Source: P.A. 84-28.)
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1 (720 ILCS 585/1) (from Ch. 8, par. 241)
2 Sec. 1. Dangerous animals prohibited, exceptions.
3 (a) No person shall have a right of property in, keep,
4 harbor, care for, act as custodian of or maintain in his
5 possession any dangerous animal except as authorized in
6 subsection (c) or except at a properly maintained zoological
7 park, federally licensed exhibit, circus, scientific or
8 educational institution, research laboratory, veterinary
9 hospital or animal refuge in an escape-proof enclosure.
10 (b) If a dangerous animal is exhibited at a facility or
11 in a setting authorized under subsection (a), the owner of
12 the animal (and the exhibitor of the animal, if the exhibitor
13 is a person other than the owner) must take reasonable steps
14 to ensure that there is no contact between the animal and any
15 person other than the owner, the exhibitor, or an employee of
16 the owner or exhibitor.
17 (c) No person, in his or her residence, shall keep,
18 harbor, care for, act as custodian of, or maintain in his or
19 her possession a constricting snake capable of causing injury
20 to an infant or child unless the snake is kept in an
21 escape-proof enclosure.
22 (Source: P.A. 84-28.)
23 (720 ILCS 585/2) (from Ch. 8, par. 242)
24 Sec. 2. It is no defense to a violation of Section 1
25 that the person violating such Section has attempted to
26 domesticate the dangerous animal. Every dangerous animal is
27 subject to seizure. After the Department of Agriculture or a
28 State's Attorney notifies an owner of a dangerous animal that
29 the animal will be seized, the owner may not transfer an
30 ownership interest in the animal to any other person until
31 after the animal is placed in an approved facility or
32 otherwise disposed of in a manner not prohibited by this Act,
33 nor may the owner move the animal or cause it to be moved
-3- LRB9108027DJcsE
1 without the express written consent of the Department. If
2 there appears to be imminent danger to the public, any
3 dangerous animal found not in compliance with the provisions
4 of this Act shall be subject to seizure and may immediately
5 be placed in an approved facility. Upon the conviction of a
6 person for a violation of Section 1, the animal with regard
7 to which the conviction was obtained shall be confiscated and
8 placed in an approved facility, with the owner thereof to be
9 responsible for all costs connected with the seizure and
10 confiscation of such animal. Approved facilities include, but
11 are not limited to, a zoological park, federally licensed
12 exhibit, humane society, veterinary hospital or animal
13 refuge.
14 (Source: P.A. 84-28.)
15 (720 ILCS 585/3.100 new)
16 Sec. 3.100. Administration by Department of Agriculture.
17 The Department of Agriculture shall administer this Act. The
18 Department shall refer violations of this Act to the
19 appropriate State's Attorney for prosecution or other
20 appropriate action. The Director of Agriculture shall adopt
21 rules necessary or appropriate for administering this Act.
22 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
23 becoming law.