101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB5589

 

Introduced , by Rep. Frances Ann Hurley

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
510 ILCS 5/9  from Ch. 8, par. 359
510 ILCS 5/15.4

    Amends the Animal Control Act. Removes the provision that any dog found running at large contrary to the Act a second or subsequent time must be spayed or neutered, if not already spayed or neutered, within 30 days of being reclaimed and that failure to do so will result in the impoundment of the dog. Provides that a dog running at large with 3 or more other dogs, if deemed a potentially dangerous dog, may (rather than shall) be spayed or neutered and microchipped with 14 days after the completion of all complaint and appeal proceedings. Sets forth the complaint and appeal procedures the owner may take to appeal the designation of potentially dangerous dog.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5589LRB101 19157 CMG 68620 b

1    AN ACT concerning animal.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Animal Control Act is amended by changing
5Sections 9 and 15.4 as follows:
 
6    (510 ILCS 5/9)  (from Ch. 8, par. 359)
7    Sec. 9. Any dog found running at large contrary to
8provisions of this Act may be apprehended and impounded. For
9this purpose, the Administrator shall utilize any existing or
10available animal control facility or licensed animal shelter.
11The dog's owner shall pay a $25 public safety fine to be
12deposited into the county animal control fund or the county pet
13population control fund. Funds transferred to or retained by a
14municipality before the effective date of this amendatory Act
15of the 100th General Assembly under this paragraph shall
16continue to be transferred to and be retained by that
17municipality. A dog found running at large contrary to the
18provisions of this Act a second or subsequent time must be
19spayed or neutered within 30 days after being reclaimed unless
20already spayed or neutered; failure to comply shall result in
21impoundment.
22    A dog that is actively engaged in a legal hunting activity,
23including training, is not considered to be running at large if

 

 

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1the dog is on land that is open to hunting or on land on which
2the person has obtained permission to hunt or to train a dog. A
3dog that is in a dog-friendly area or dog park is not
4considered to be running at large if the dog is monitored or
5supervised by a person.
6(Source: P.A. 100-787, eff. 8-10-18.)
 
7    (510 ILCS 5/15.4)
8    Sec. 15.4. Potentially dangerous dog. A dog found running
9at large and unsupervised with 3 or more other dogs may be
10deemed a potentially dangerous dog by the animal control warden
11or administrator. Potentially dangerous dogs may shall be
12spayed or neutered and microchipped within 14 days after
13completion of all appeals and complaint proceedings. of
14reclaim. The designation of "potentially dangerous dog" shall
15expire 12 months after the most recent violation of this
16Section. Failure to comply with this Section will result in
17impoundment of the dog or a fine of $500.
18    (a) The owner of a dog found to be a potentially dangerous
19dog pursuant to this Act by an Administrator may file a
20complaint against the Administrator in the circuit court within
2135 days of receipt of notification of the determination, for a
22de novo hearing on the determination. The proceeding shall be
23conducted as a civil hearing pursuant to the Illinois Rules of
24Evidence and the Code of Civil Procedure, including the
25discovery provisions. After hearing both parties' evidence,

 

 

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1the court may make a determination of potentially dangerous dog
2if the Administrator meets his or her burden of proof of a
3preponderance of the evidence. The final order of the circuit
4court may be appealed pursuant to the civil appeals provisions
5of the Illinois Supreme Court Rules.
6    (b) The owner of a dog found to be a potentially dangerous
7dog pursuant to this Act by the Director may, within 14 days of
8receipt of notification of the determination, request an
9administrative hearing to appeal the determination. The
10administrative hearing shall be conducted pursuant to the
11Department of Agriculture's rules applicable to formal
12administrative proceedings, 8 Ill. Adm. Code Part 1, Subparts A
13and B. An owner desiring a hearing shall make his or her
14request for a hearing to the Illinois Department of
15Agriculture. The final administrative decision of the
16Department may be reviewed judicially by the circuit court of
17the county wherein the person resides or, in the case of a
18corporation, the county where its registered office is located.
19If the plaintiff in a review proceeding is not a resident of
20Illinois, the venue shall be in Sangamon County. The
21Administrative Review Law and all amendments and modifications
22thereof, and the rules adopted thereto, apply to and govern all
23proceedings for the judicial review of final administrative
24decisions of the Department hereunder.
25    (c) Until the order has been reviewed and at all times
26during the appeal process, the owner shall comply with the

 

 

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1requirements set forth by the Administrator, the court, or the
2Director, but is not required to spay or neuter the animal
3until a final order is determined.
4    (d) At any time after a final order has been entered, the
5owner may petition the circuit court to reverse the designation
6of potentially dangerous dog.
7(Source: P.A. 95-550, eff. 6-1-08.)