summary
Introduced
01/24/2025
01/24/2025
In Committee
01/24/2025
01/24/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amends the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2004. In the provision that a veterinarian who, on his or her own initiative or other than at the request of the owner, gives emergency treatment to a sick or injured animal shall not be liable for damages in the absence of gross negligence, includes giving emergency treatment to a dangerous animal, as defined in the Criminal Code of 2012. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that "dangerous animal", in addition to the other animals listed in the dangerous animals statute, includes a serval, caracal, kangaroo, wallaby, or any hybrid, intergrade, or cross of such an animal. Provides that no person shall have a right of property in, keep, harbor, care for, act as custodian of or maintain in his or her possession any dangerous animal or primate except at or by a: (1) federally licensed facility, (2) veterinary hospital, or (3) permitted hound running area and only for possession of coyotes. Provides that the exemptions listed in the provision do not exempt persons from having to be in compliance with the Wildlife Code or the Endangered Species Act, including, but not limited to, prohibitions on possession of any dangerous animal. Provides that nothing in the provision shall be construed to apply to a motion picture, television, or digital media production company employing or contracting with a dealer or exhibitor licensed under the federal Animal Welfare Act or with a carrier, intermediate handler, or unlicensed exhibitor registered under that Act for the transportation, purchase, exhibition, or use of animals in its motion picture, television, or digital media production. Provides that it is an affirmative defense for a prosecution under this provision if a person had lawful possession of a feline crossbreed between a serval cat and a domesticated cat and the possessor of the animal proves that the possessor possessed the animal before the effective date of the amendatory Act. Defines "federally licensed facility".
AI Summary
This bill amends two existing laws to expand regulations around dangerous animals and veterinary treatment. Specifically, it modifies the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act to explicitly allow veterinarians to provide emergency treatment to dangerous animals without liability, and updates the Criminal Code's definition of "dangerous animals" to include additional species like servals, caracals, kangaroos, and wallabies. The bill restricts possession of these dangerous animals to only a few specific settings: federally licensed facilities, veterinary hospitals, and permitted hound running areas (for coyotes only). The legislation provides an exemption for people who already legally owned certain animal crossbreeds (like a serval-domestic cat hybrid) before the law's effective date, and clarifies that these restrictions do not override existing wildlife protection laws. The bill also defines a "federally licensed facility" as any commercial animal dealer, exhibitor, research facility, or animal transporter regulated by the United States government. These changes aim to enhance public safety by more tightly controlling the ownership and handling of potentially dangerous exotic animals.
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Referred to Assignments (on 01/24/2025)
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1192&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&SessionID=114&GA=104 |
| BillText | https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/104/SB/10400SB1192.htm |
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