HB2277 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 09224 SLF 54318 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB2277

Introduced , by Rep. Thomas Morrison

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

510 ILCS 70/4.04

from Ch. 8, par. 704.04

Amends the Humane Care for Animals Act. Provides that a person who willfully or maliciously tortures, mutilates, injures, disables, poisons, or kills any animal used by a law enforcement department or agency in the performance of the functions or duties of the department or agency or when off duty, any service animal, any search and rescue dog, any law enforcement, service, or search and rescue animal in training, or any accelerant detection canine used by a fire officer for arson investigations in the performance of his or her functions or when off duty, if the animal is not killed or totally disabled, the person is guilty of a Class 3 felony, and if the animal is killed or totally disabled, the person is guilty of a Class 2 felony. Provides that a person who kills or severely injures any animal used by a law enforcement department or agency in the performance of the functions or duties of the department or agency or when off duty, any service animal, any search and rescue dog, any law enforcement, service, or search and rescue animal in training, or any accelerant detection canine used by a fire officer for arson investigations in the performance of his or her functions or when off duty, while he or she is in the commission of a felony, is guilty of a Class 2 felony. If the offender is found to be guilty under the provision, the offender shall be responsible for any veterinarian bills for an animal that was injured, and training costs for another animal, if the animal injured or killed is no longer able to be in service. Makes other changes.

CORRECTIONAL BUDGET AND IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning animals.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. This Act may be referred to as Draco's Law.

Section 5. The Humane Care for Animals Act is amended by changing Section 4.04 as follows:

(510 ILCS 70/4.04) (from Ch. 8, par. 704.04)

Sec. 4.04. Injuring or killing police animals, service animals, accelerant detection dogs, or search and rescue dogs prohibited.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully or maliciously torture, mutilate, injure, disable, poison, or kill (i) any animal used by a law enforcement department or agency in the performance of the functions or duties of the department or agency or when placed in confinement off duty, (ii) any service animal, (iii) any search and rescue dog, (iv) any law enforcement, service, or search and rescue animal in training, or (v) any accelerant detection canine used by a fire officer for arson investigations in the performance of his or her functions or while off duty. However, a police officer or veterinarian may perform euthanasia in emergency situations when delay would cause the animal undue suffering and pain.

A person convicted of violating this subsection (a) Section is guilty of a Class 3 4 felony if the animal is not killed or totally disabled; if the animal is killed or totally disabled, the person is guilty of a Class 2 3 felony.

(b) A person who kills or severely injures (i) any animal used by a law enforcement department or agency in the performance of the functions or duties of the department or agency or when off duty, (ii) any service animal, (iii) any search and rescue dog, (iv) any law enforcement, service, or search and rescue animal in training, or (v) any accelerant detection canine used by a fire officer for arson investigations in the performance of his or her functions or when off duty, while he or she is in the commission of a felony, is guilty of a Class 2 felony.

(c) If the offender is found to be guilty under this Section, the offender shall be responsible for any veterinarian bills for an animal that was injured, and training costs for another animal, if the animal injured or killed is no longer able to be in service.

(d) A person is not in violation of this Section if the animal used by a law enforcement department or agency was used against the person in violation of the law enforcement department or agency's use of force continuum or policy.

(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; 95-560, eff. 8-30-07; 96-1171, eff. 7-22-10.)