HB5541 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB094 19395 RSP 55069 b

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
HB5541

Introduced 1/27/2006, by Rep. Mark H. Beaubien, Jr.

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

55 ILCS 5/5-1071	from Ch. 34, par. 5-1071
510 ILCS 5/2.01a new
510 ILCS 5/2.19a-5 new
510 ILCS 5/3	from Ch. 8, par. 353
510 ILCS 5/9.1 new
510 ILCS 5/15	from Ch. 8, par. 365
510 ILCS 5/15.4 new
510 ILCS 5/15.5 new
730 ILCS 5/5-5-3.2	from Ch. 38, par. 1005-5-3.2

Amends the Counties Code to eliminate a limitation on fines or penalties in excess of $50 for dogs running at large. Amends the Animal Control Act. Provides that a county board may appoint an Administrative Law Judge to conduct an administrative hearing to determine that a dog is vicious under the Act. Sets forth certain requirements for being an Administrative Law Judge. Authorizes an animal control officer or law enforcement officer who determines, upon investigation, that probable cause exists to believe a dog poses an immediate threat to public safety to seize and impound the dog. Sets forth certain provisions relating to a vicious dog determination by an Administrative Law Judge. Provides that in a court determination that a dog is vicious, the judge has the discretion to order that the vicious dog be euthanized. Sets forth that an owner of a dog that is impounded or found to be vicious has 35 days before that dog may be euthanized (now, 15 days). Requires the Department to establish and maintain an Internet website containing information on dogs declared vicious or dangerous. Authorizes the State's Attorney for the county in which the dog exists to file a complaint in the circuit court asking that the court declare a dog to be an uncontrollable vicious dog. Provides that a dog found to be an uncontrollable vicious dog by the circuit court shall be euthanized. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. In a Section setting forth reasons to impose an extended term sentence, authorizes such an extension when a defendant commits any felony and the defendant used, possessed, exercised control over, or otherwise directed an animal to assault a law enforcement officer engaged in the execution of his or her official duties or in furtherance of the criminal activities of an organized gang in which the defendant is engaged. Effective immediately.

CORRECTIONAL BUDGET AND IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

FISCAL 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 5. The Counties Code is amended by changing Section 5-1071 as follows:

(55 ILCS 5/5-1071) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-1071)

Sec. 5-1071. Dogs running at large. The county board of each county may regulate and prohibit the running at large of dogs in unincorporated areas of the county which have been subdivided for residence purposes. The county board may impose such fines or penalties as are deemed proper to effectuate any such regulation or prohibition of dogs running at large, except when a fine or penalty is already allowed by law. No fine or penalty may exceed $50 for any one offense.

(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

Section 10. The Animal Control Act is amended by changing Sections 3 and 15 and by adding Sections 2.01a, 2.19a-5, 9.1, 15.4, and 15.5 as follows:

(510 ILCS 5/2.01a new)

Sec. 2.01a. "Administrative law judge" means an individual appointed based on merit by the County Board to hear cases involving vicious dogs.

(510 ILCS 5/2.19a-5 new)

Sec. 2.19a-5. "Uncontrollable vicious dog" means a dog that without justification in an unpredictable manner attacks humans and causes serious physical injury or death to multiple victims.

(510 ILCS 5/3) (from Ch. 8, par. 353)

Sec. 3. The County Board Chairman with the consent of the County Board shall appoint an Administrator. Appointments shall be made as necessary to keep this position filled at all times. The Administrator may appoint as many Deputy Administrators and Animal Control Wardens to aid him or her as authorized by the Board. The compensation for the Administrator, Deputy Administrators, and Animal Control Wardens shall be fixed by the Board. The Administrator may be removed from office by the County Board Chairman, with the consent of the County Board.

The Board shall provide necessary personnel, training, equipment, supplies, and facilities, and shall operate pounds or contract for their operation as necessary to effectuate the program. The Board may enter into contracts or agreements with persons to assist in the operation of the program and may establish a county animal population control program.

The Board may appoint an Administrative Law Judge to conduct vicious dog hearings for a specified term, not on a case by case basis. The Administrative Law Judge shall have 30 or more Continuing Legal Education hours of formal and accredited judicial or Administrative Law Judge training. The proceeding shall be a formal evidentiary hearing. There shall be no ex parte communications with either party regarding pending cases or policy.

The Board shall be empowered to utilize monies from their General Corporate Fund to effectuate the intent of this Act.

The Board is authorized by ordinance to require the registration and may require microchipping of dogs and cats. The Board shall impose an individual dog or cat registration fee with a minimum differential of $10 for intact dogs or cats. Ten dollars of the differential shall be placed either in a county animal population control fund or in the State's Pet Population Control Fund. If the money is placed in the county animal population control fund it shall be used to (i) spay, neuter, or sterilize adopted dogs or cats or (ii) spay or neuter dogs or cats owned by low income county residents who are eligible for the Food Stamp Program. All persons selling dogs or cats or keeping registries of dogs or cats shall cooperate and provide information to the Administrator as required by Board ordinance, including sales, number of litters, and ownership of dogs and cats. If microchips are required, the microchip number may serve as the county animal control registration number.

In obtaining information required to implement this Act, the Department shall have power to subpoena and bring before it any person in this State and to take testimony either orally or by deposition, or both, with the same fees and mileage and in the same manner as prescribed by law for civil cases in courts of this State.

The Director shall have power to administer oaths to witnesses at any hearing which the Department is authorized by law to conduct, and any other oaths required or authorized in any Act administered by the Department.

This Section does not apply to feral cats.

(Source: P.A. 93-548, eff. 8-19-03; 94-639, eff. 8-22-05.)

(510 ILCS 5/9.1 new)

Sec. 9.1. Authority to seize and impound an animal posing an immediate threat to public safety. If upon investigation it is determined by the animal control officer or law enforcement officer that probable cause exists to believe that a dog in question poses an immediate threat to public safety, then the animal control officer or law enforcement officer may seize and impound the dog pending a dangerous or vicious dog hearing to be held pursuant to this Act.

(510 ILCS 5/15) (from Ch. 8, par. 365)

Sec. 15. (a) In order to have a dog deemed "vicious", the Administrator, Deputy Administrator, or law enforcement officer must give notice of the infraction that is the basis of the investigation to the owner, conduct a thorough investigation, interview any witnesses, including the owner, gather any existing medical records, veterinary medical records or behavioral evidence, and make a detailed report recommending a finding that the dog is a vicious dog and give the report to the States Attorney's Office and the owner. The county clerk shall schedule an administrative hearing pursuant to the filing and notice requirements of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act before an Administrative Law Judge as defined in this Act or give the report to the State's Attorneys Office. The Administrator, State's Attorney, Director or any citizen of the county in which the dog exists may file a complaint in the circuit court in the name of the People of the State of Illinois to deem a dog to be a vicious dog. Testimony of a certified applied behaviorist, a board certified veterinary behaviorist, or another recognized expert may be relevant to the court's or the Administrative Law Judge's determination of whether the dog's behavior was justified. The petitioner must prove the dog is a vicious dog by clear and convincing evidence. The Administrator shall determine where the animal shall be confined during the pendency of the case.

A dog may not be declared vicious if the court or the Administrative Law Judge determines the conduct of the dog was justified because:

(1) the threat, injury, or death was sustained by a person who at the time was committing a crime or offense upon the owner or custodian of the dog, or was committing a willful trespass or other tort upon the premises or property owned or occupied by the owner of the animal;

(2) the injured, threatened, or killed person was abusing, assaulting, or physically threatening the dog or its offspring, or has in the past abused, assaulted, or physically threatened the dog or its offspring; or

(3) the dog was responding to pain or injury, or was protecting itself, its owner, custodian, or member of its household, kennel, or offspring.

No dog shall be deemed "vicious" if it is a professionally trained dog for law enforcement or guard duties. Vicious dogs shall not be classified in a manner that is specific as to breed.

If the burden of proof has been met, the court or the Administrative Law Judge shall deem the dog to be a vicious dog.

If a dog is found to be a vicious dog, the owner shall pay a $100 public safety fine to be deposited into the Pet Population Control Fund, the dog shall be spayed or neutered within 10 days of the finding at the expense of its owner and microchipped, if not already, and the dog is subject to enclosure. If an owner fails to comply with these requirements, the animal control agency shall impound the dog and the owner shall pay a $500 fine plus impoundment fees to the animal control agency impounding the dog. In a court determination that a dog is a vicious dog, the The judge has the discretion to order a vicious dog be euthanized. A dog found to be a vicious dog shall not be released to the owner until the Administrator, an Animal Control Warden, or the Director approves the enclosure. No owner or keeper of a vicious dog shall sell or give away the dog without approval from the Administrator or court. Whenever an owner of a vicious dog relocates, he or she shall notify both the Administrator of County Animal Control where he or she has relocated and the Administrator of County Animal Control where he or she formerly resided.

The owner of a dog found to be vicious pursuant to this Act by administrative proceeding may file a complaint against the county in the circuit court within 35 days of receipt of notification of the administrative determination for a de novo hearing on the determination. The proceeding shall be conducted as a civil hearing pursuant to the Illinois rules of evidence and the rules of civil procedure including the discovery provisions. Upon hearing both parties' evidence, the court may make a determination that a dog is a vicious dog if the county meets its burden of proof of clear and convincing evidence. The final order of the circuit court may be appealed pursuant to the civil appeals provisions of the Illinois Supreme Court.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain any dog which has been found to be a vicious dog unless the dog is kept in an enclosure. The only times that a vicious dog may be allowed out of the enclosure are (1) if it is necessary for the owner or keeper to obtain veterinary care for the dog, (2) in the case of an emergency or natural disaster where the dog's life is threatened, or (3) to comply with the order of a court of competent jurisdiction, provided that the dog is securely muzzled and restrained with a leash not exceeding 6 feet in length, and shall be under the direct control and supervision of the owner or keeper of the dog or muzzled in its residence.

Any dog which has been found to be a vicious dog and which is not confined to an enclosure shall be impounded by the Administrator, an Animal Control Warden, or the law enforcement authority having jurisdiction in such area.

If the owner of the dog has not appealed the order of euthanasia or impoundment order to the circuit court in the county in which the animal was impounded within 35 15 working days, the dog may be euthanized.

Upon filing a notice of appeal, the order of euthanasia shall be automatically stayed pending the outcome of the appeal. The owner shall bear the burden of timely notification to animal control in writing.

Guide dogs for the blind or hearing impaired, support dogs for the physically handicapped, and sentry, guard, or police-owned dogs are exempt from this Section; provided, an attack or injury to a person occurs while the dog is performing duties as expected. To qualify for exemption under this Section, each such dog shall be currently inoculated against rabies in accordance with Section 8 of this Act. It shall be the duty of the owner of such exempted dog to notify the Administrator of changes of address. In the case of a sentry or guard dog, the owner shall keep the Administrator advised of the location where such dog will be stationed. The Administrator shall provide police and fire departments with a categorized list of such exempted dogs, and shall promptly notify such departments of any address changes reported to him.

(c) If the animal control agency has custody of the dog, the agency may file a petition with the court requesting that the owner be ordered to post security. The security must be in an amount sufficient to secure payment of all reasonable expenses expected to be incurred by the animal control agency or animal shelter in caring for and providing for the dog pending the determination. Reasonable expenses include, but are not limited to, estimated medical care and boarding of the animal for 30 days. If security has been posted in accordance with this Section, the animal control agency may draw from the security the actual costs incurred by the agency in caring for the dog.

(d) Upon receipt of a petition, the court must set a hearing on the petition, to be conducted within 5 business days after the petition is filed. The petitioner must serve a true copy of the petition upon the defendant.

(e) If the court orders the posting of security, the security must be posted with the clerk of the court within 5 business days after the hearing. If the person ordered to post security does not do so, the dog is forfeited by operation of law and the animal control agency must dispose of the animal through adoption or humane euthanization.

(f) If an animal is found to be a vicious dog, all costs of impoundment, disposition, boarding, and medical or other costs related to the determination that the dog is vicious shall be borne by the owner.

(Source: P.A. 93-548, eff. 8-19-03; 94-639, eff. 8-22-05.)

(510 ILCS 5/15.4 new)

Sec. 15.4. Dangerous dog website. Beginning 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act, the Department shall establish and maintain an Internet website containing information on dogs declared vicious or dangerous under this Act. The information posted shall include the dog's current location, a description of the dog, the microchip number of the dog, a photograph of the dog, the date declared dangerous or vicious, and the registration number of the dog. The Department shall establish, by administrative rule, fees to be assessed against the owner of a vicious or dangerous dog to cover the reasonable and necessary costs of the creation and maintenance of this website.

(510 ILCS 5/15.5 new)

Sec. 15.5. Uncontrollable vicious dog. The State's Attorney for the county in which the dog exists may file a complaint in the circuit court in the name of the people of the State of Illinois asking that a dog be declared to be an uncontrollable vicious dog. A dog may not be declared to be an uncontrollable vicious dog if the court determines that the conduct of the dog was justified because:

(1) the threat, injury, or death was sustained by a person who at the time was committing a crime or offense upon the owner or custodian of the dog, or was committing a willful trespass or other tort upon the premises or property owned or occupied by the owner of the animal;

(2) the injured, threatened, or killed person was abusing, assaulting, or physically threatening the dog or its offspring, or has in the past abused, assaulted, or physically threatened the dog or its offspring; or

(3) the dog was responding to pain or injury, or was protecting itself, its owner, custodian, or member of its household, kennel, or offspring. Testimony of a certified applied behaviorist, a board certified veterinary behaviorist, or another recognized expert may be relevant as to whether the dog's behavior was justified. The petitioner must prove that the dog is an uncontrollable vicious dog by clear and convincing evidence. A dog found to be an uncontrollable vicious dog by the circuit court shall be euthanized. The final order of the circuit court may be appealed pursuant to the civil appeals provisions of the Illinois Supreme Court.

Section 15. The Unified Code of Corrections is amended by changing Section 5-5-3.2 as follows:

(730 ILCS 5/5-5-3.2) (from Ch. 38, par. 1005-5-3.2)

Sec. 5-5-3.2. Factors in Aggravation.

(a) The following factors shall be accorded weight in favor of imposing a term of imprisonment or may be considered by the court as reasons to impose a more severe sentence under Section 5-8-1:

(1) the defendant's conduct caused or threatened serious harm;

(2) the defendant received compensation for committing the offense;

(3) the defendant has a history of prior delinquency or criminal activity;

(4) the defendant, by the duties of his office or by his position, was obliged to prevent the particular offense committed or to bring the offenders committing it to justice;

(5) the defendant held public office at the time of the offense, and the offense related to the conduct of that office;

(6) the defendant utilized his professional reputation or position in the community to commit the offense, or to afford him an easier means of committing it;

(7) the sentence is necessary to deter others from committing the same crime;

(8) the defendant committed the offense against a person 60 years of age or older or such person's property;

(9) the defendant committed the offense against a person who is physically handicapped or such person's property;

(10) by reason of another individual's actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or national origin, the defendant committed the offense against (i) the person or property of that individual; (ii) the person or property of a person who has an association with, is married to, or has a friendship with the other individual; or (iii) the person or property of a relative (by blood or marriage) of a person described in clause (i) or (ii). For the purposes of this Section, "sexual orientation" means heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality;

(11) the offense took place in a place of worship or on the grounds of a place of worship, immediately prior to, during or immediately following worship services. For purposes of this subparagraph, "place of worship" shall mean any church, synagogue or other building, structure or place used primarily for religious worship;

(12) the defendant was convicted of a felony committed while he was released on bail or his own recognizance pending trial for a prior felony and was convicted of such prior felony, or the defendant was convicted of a felony committed while he was serving a period of probation, conditional discharge, or mandatory supervised release under subsection (d) of Section 5-8-1 for a prior felony;

(13) the defendant committed or attempted to commit a felony while he was wearing a bulletproof vest. For the purposes of this paragraph (13), a bulletproof vest is any device which is designed for the purpose of protecting the wearer from bullets, shot or other lethal projectiles;

(14) the defendant held a position of trust or supervision such as, but not limited to, family member as defined in Section 12-12 of the Criminal Code of 1961, teacher, scout leader, baby sitter, or day care worker, in relation to a victim under 18 years of age, and the defendant committed an offense in violation of Section 11-6, 11-11, 11-15.1, 11-19.1, 11-19.2, 11-20.1, 12-13, 12-14, 12-14.1, 12-15 or 12-16 of the Criminal Code of 1961 against that victim;

(15) the defendant committed an offense related to the activities of an organized gang. For the purposes of this factor, "organized gang" has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 10 of the Streetgang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act;

(16) the defendant committed an offense in violation of one of the following Sections while in a school, regardless of the time of day or time of year; on any conveyance owned, leased, or contracted by a school to transport students to or from school or a school related activity; on the real property of a school; or on a public way within 1,000 feet of the real property comprising any school: Section 10-1, 10-2, 10-5, 11-15.1, 11-17.1, 11-18.1, 11-19.1, 11-19.2, 12-2, 12-4, 12-4.1, 12-4.2, 12-4.3, 12-6, 12-6.1, 12-13, 12-14, 12-14.1, 12-15, 12-16, 18-2, or 33A-2 of the Criminal Code of 1961;

(16.5) the defendant committed an offense in violation of one of the following Sections while in a day care center, regardless of the time of day or time of year; on the real property of a day care center, regardless of the time of day or time of year; or on a public way within 1,000 feet of the real property comprising any day care center, regardless of the time of day or time of year: Section 10-1, 10-2, 10-5, 11-15.1, 11-17.1, 11-18.1, 11-19.1, 11-19.2, 12-2, 12-4, 12-4.1, 12-4.2, 12-4.3, 12-6, 12-6.1, 12-13, 12-14, 12-14.1, 12-15, 12-16, 18-2, or 33A-2 of the Criminal Code of 1961;

(17) the defendant committed the offense by reason of any person's activity as a community policing volunteer or to prevent any person from engaging in activity as a community policing volunteer. For the purpose of this Section, "community policing volunteer" has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2-3.5 of the Criminal Code of 1961;

(18) the defendant committed the offense in a nursing home or on the real property comprising a nursing home. For the purposes of this paragraph (18), "nursing home" means a skilled nursing or intermediate long term care facility that is subject to license by the Illinois Department of Public Health under the Nursing Home Care Act;

(19) the defendant was a federally licensed firearm dealer and was previously convicted of a violation of subsection (a) of Section 3 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act and has now committed either a felony violation of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act or an act of armed violence while armed with a firearm; or

(20) the defendant (i) committed the offense of reckless homicide under Section 9-3 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the offense of driving under the influence of alcohol, other drug or drugs, intoxicating compound or compounds or any combination thereof under Section 11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance and (ii) was operating a motor vehicle in excess of 20 miles per hour over the posted speed limit as provided in Article VI of Chapter 11 of the Illinois Vehicle Code; or .

(21) (20) the defendant (i) committed the offense of reckless driving or aggravated reckless driving under Section 11-503 of the Illinois Vehicle Code and (ii) was operating a motor vehicle in excess of 20 miles per hour over the posted speed limit as provided in Article VI of Chapter 11 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.

For the purposes of this Section:

"School" is defined as a public or private elementary or secondary school, community college, college, or university.

"Day care center" means a public or private State certified and licensed day care center as defined in Section 2.09 of the Child Care Act of 1969 that displays a sign in plain view stating that the property is a day care center.

(b) The following factors may be considered by the court as reasons to impose an extended term sentence under Section 5-8-2 upon any offender:

(1) When a defendant is convicted of any felony, after having been previously convicted in Illinois or any other jurisdiction of the same or similar class felony or greater class felony, when such conviction has occurred within 10 years after the previous conviction, excluding time spent in custody, and such charges are separately brought and tried and arise out of different series of acts; or

(2) When a defendant is convicted of any felony and the court finds that the offense was accompanied by exceptionally brutal or heinous behavior indicative of wanton cruelty; or

(3) When a defendant is convicted of voluntary manslaughter, second degree murder, involuntary manslaughter or reckless homicide in which the defendant has been convicted of causing the death of more than one individual; or

(4) When a defendant is convicted of any felony committed against:

(i) a person under 12 years of age at the time of the offense or such person's property;

(ii) a person 60 years of age or older at the time of the offense or such person's property; or

(iii) a person physically handicapped at the time of the offense or such person's property; or

(5) In the case of a defendant convicted of aggravated criminal sexual assault or criminal sexual assault, when the court finds that aggravated criminal sexual assault or criminal sexual assault was also committed on the same victim by one or more other individuals, and the defendant voluntarily participated in the crime with the knowledge of the participation of the others in the crime, and the commission of the crime was part of a single course of conduct during which there was no substantial change in the nature of the criminal objective; or

(6) When a defendant is convicted of any felony and the offense involved any of the following types of specific misconduct committed as part of a ceremony, rite, initiation, observance, performance, practice or activity of any actual or ostensible religious, fraternal, or social group:

(i) the brutalizing or torturing of humans or animals;

(ii) the theft of human corpses;

(iii) the kidnapping of humans;

(iv) the desecration of any cemetery, religious, fraternal, business, governmental, educational, or other building or property; or

(v) ritualized abuse of a child; or

(7) When a defendant is convicted of first degree murder, after having been previously convicted in Illinois of any offense listed under paragraph (c)(2) of Section 5-5-3, when such conviction has occurred within 10 years after the previous conviction, excluding time spent in custody, and such charges are separately brought and tried and arise out of different series of acts; or

(8) When a defendant is convicted of a felony other than conspiracy and the court finds that the felony was committed under an agreement with 2 or more other persons to commit that offense and the defendant, with respect to the other individuals, occupied a position of organizer, supervisor, financier, or any other position of management or leadership, and the court further finds that the felony committed was related to or in furtherance of the criminal activities of an organized gang or was motivated by the defendant's leadership in an organized gang; or

(9) When a defendant is convicted of a felony violation of Section 24-1 of the Criminal Code of 1961 and the court finds that the defendant is a member of an organized gang; or

(10) When a defendant committed the offense using a firearm with a laser sight attached to it. For purposes of this paragraph (10), "laser sight" has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 24.6-5 of the Criminal Code of 1961; or

(11) When a defendant who was at least 17 years of age at the time of the commission of the offense is convicted of a felony and has been previously adjudicated a delinquent minor under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 for an act that if committed by an adult would be a Class X or Class 1 felony when the conviction has occurred within 10 years after the previous adjudication, excluding time spent in custody; or

(12) When a defendant commits an offense involving the illegal manufacture of a controlled substance under Section 401 of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine under Section 25 of the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act, or the illegal possession of explosives and an emergency response officer in the performance of his or her duties is killed or injured at the scene of the offense while responding to the emergency caused by the commission of the offense. In this paragraph (12), "emergency" means a situation in which a person's life, health, or safety is in jeopardy; and "emergency response officer" means a peace officer, community policing volunteer, fireman, emergency medical technician-ambulance, emergency medical technician-intermediate, emergency medical technician-paramedic, ambulance driver, other medical assistance or first aid personnel, or hospital emergency room personnel; or .

(13) When a defendant commits any felony and the defendant used, possessed, exercised control over, or otherwise directed an animal to assault a law enforcement officer engaged in the execution of his or her official duties or in furtherance of the criminal activities of an organized gang in which the defendant is engaged.

(b-1) For the purposes of this Section, "organized gang" has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 10 of the Illinois Streetgang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act.

(c) The court may impose an extended term sentence under Section 5-8-2 upon any offender who was convicted of aggravated criminal sexual assault or predatory criminal sexual assault of a child under subsection (a)(1) of Section 12-14.1 of the Criminal Code of 1961 where the victim was under 18 years of age at the time of the commission of the offense.

(d) The court may impose an extended term sentence under Section 5-8-2 upon any offender who was convicted of unlawful use of weapons under Section 24-1 of the Criminal Code of 1961 for possessing a weapon that is not readily distinguishable as one of the weapons enumerated in Section 24-1 of the Criminal Code of 1961.

(Source: P.A. 94-131, eff. 7-7-05; 94-375, eff. 1-1-06; 94-556, eff. 9-11-05; revised 8-19-05.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.