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| Public Act 103-0239 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning criminal law.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Wild | ||||
Animal Public Safety Act. | ||||
Section 5. Definitions.
In this Act: | ||||
"Covered animal" means any live member of the following, | ||||
or any hybrid
of the following: | ||||
(1) Bear. | ||||
(2) Nonhuman primate. | ||||
"Direct contact" means physical contact or proximity where | ||||
physical contact
is possible, including, but not limited to, | ||||
any proximity without a permanent
physical barrier or | ||||
sufficient vertical height designed to prevent physical | ||||
contact
between the public and a covered animal. | ||||
"Professional production crew" means a cast or crew member | ||||
of a television or
motion picture production team that has | ||||
obtained permits as required by law, and
includes a | ||||
professional photographer, videographer, or cinematographer. | ||||
Section 10. Prohibition.
Notwithstanding any other | ||||
provision of law to the contrary, it is unlawful for any
person | ||||
to allow any member of the public to come into direct contact | ||||
with a covered animal. | ||
Section 15. Nonapplication of Act.
This Act does not | ||
apply to direct contact between a covered animal and any of the
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following: | ||
(1) The owner of the covered animal. | ||
(2) The owner of the facility in which the specified | ||
animal is kept. | ||
(3) A trained professional employee or contractor of | ||
the owner of the covered
animal or facility (or an | ||
accompanying employee receiving professional training),
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while acting in the course and scope of official duty. | ||
(4) A licensed veterinarian, a veterinary student | ||
accompanying such a
veterinarian, or a registered | ||
veterinary technician under the direct or indirect
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supervision of a licensed veterinarian. | ||
(5) A law enforcement officer or animal control | ||
authority acting in the course
and scope of official duty. | ||
(6) An employee of a federal, State, or local agency, | ||
while acting in the course and scope of the person's | ||
official duty. | ||
(7) A board member of the facility where the animal is | ||
kept, a trainee, service
provider, or professional | ||
production crew which: | ||
(A) is accompanied by the facility's owner or | ||
trained employee; | ||
(B) is performing work with the specified animal | ||
away from public
view; and
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(C) is under a contract or other engagement with | ||
the facility's owner. | ||
Section 20. Penalty.
Any person who violates the | ||
provisions of this Act is guilty of a Class B
misdemeanor.
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Section 25. Enforcement.
Any law enforcement officer or | ||
peace officer employed by this State or by any
county or | ||
municipality within this State may enforce the provisions
of | ||
this Act. The Attorney General, or a State's Attorney of the | ||
county in which a
violation of this Act occurred, may bring an | ||
action in the name of the People of the
State of Illinois to | ||
enforce the provisions of this Act, and may bring an action for | ||
an
injunction to restrain any actual or threatened violation.
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Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are | ||
severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes. | ||