HJ0061 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0061 LRB100 12946 MST 27004 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois owes a debt of gratitude to veterans who have protected our nation by serving in the military; and

WHEREAS, The high rate of veteran suicide is a tragedy that Illinois should be compelled to do everything within its power to prevent; the Veteran Suicide Prevention Task Force gathered information and testimony on ways to give support to veterans in need and to prevent veteran suicide; and

WHEREAS, The Veteran Suicide Prevention Task Force found one method of suicide prevention is encouraging veterans to own therapy dogs; therapy dogs provide many positives to veterans such as comfort in unfamiliar places; therapy dogs provide constant affectionate companionship and give a sense of duty to a veteran that bolsters his or her sense of self; and

WHEREAS, There is no current standard of identification or regulation of therapy dogs in Illinois; the Illinois Veteran Suicide Prevention Task Force recommended the State of Illinois develop a licensing program for therapy dogs; and

WHEREAS, Other states also have programs for therapy dogs; Tennessee has a program called "Patriot Paws"; Illinois is host to a program in Chicago called "Valor", which provides an in-house eight-week program for veterans and dogs; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to research programs of identification and training for therapy dogs, especially therapy dogs designated for veterans, and provide a report to the General Assembly on possibilities for legislation to provide a certification program for therapy dogs in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.