House Sponsors: O'CONNOR-LYONS,JOSEPH-ZICKUS-MENDOZA-MCAULIFFE AND FRITCHEY. Senate Sponsors: RADOGNO-BOWLES Short description: CRIM CD-ANIMAL CARE-DOGFIGHTS Synopsis of Bill as introduced: Amends the Humane Care for Animals Act and the Criminal Code of 1961. Removes the penalties and prohibitions from the Humane Care for Animals Act and places them in the Criminal Code of 1961. In the Criminal Code provisions provides for enhanced penalties for a person who knowingly makes available any site, structure, or facility, whether enclosed or not, that he or she knows or should know is intended to be used for the purpose of conducting a dogfight or for knowingly manufacturing, distributing, or delivering fittings to be used in a dogfight. Provides for enhanced penalties for knowingly owning a dog for fighting purposes or for producing a fight between 2 or more dogs or a dog and human or for knowingly offering for sale or selling a dog bred for fighting if any of the following factors is present: (i) the dogfight is performed in the presence of a person under 18 years of age; (ii) the dogfight is performed for the purpose of, or in the presence of illegal wagering activity; or (iii) the dogfight is performed in furtherance of streetgang related activity as defined in Section 10 of the Illinois Streetgang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act. CORRECTIONS NOTE (Department of Corrections) There are no data to objectively estimate the impact of this legislation, but it is expected to be minimal. Each person sentenced to a Class 4 felony would serve seven months in pri- son at a cost of $11,400, and any Class 3 admission would serve twelve months in prison at a cost of $19,543. Each admission would require the construction of one additional prison bed at a cost of $43,864. SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1. Further amends the Humane Care for Animals Act. Restores the penalties and prohibitions previously deleted from the Humane Care for Animals Act. Provides for enhanced penalties for a person who knowingly makes available any site, structure, or facility, whether enclosed or not, that he or she knows or should know is intended to be used for the purpose of conducting a dogfight or for knowingly manufacturing, distributing, or delivering fittings to be used in a dogfight. Provides for enhanced penalties for knowingly owning a dog for fighting purposes or for producing a fight between 2 or more dogs or a dog and human or for knowingly offering for sale or selling a dog bred for fighting if any of the following factors is present: (i) the dogfight is performed in the presence of a person under 18 years of age; (ii) the dogfight is performed for the purpose of, or in the presence of illegal wagering activity; or (iii) the dogfight is performed in furtherance of streetgang related activity as defined in Section 10 of the Illinois Streetgang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act. Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Creates the offense of dog fighting, which mirrors the prohibitions and penalties in the Humane Care for Animals Act. In both the Humane Care for Animals Act and the Criminal Code of 1961, for offenses classified as felonies for a first violation, provides that the defendant is guilty if he or she knows (instead of knows or should know) that the animals or property involved are intended to be used for purposes prohibited by the Act and the Code. Last action on Bill: PUBLIC ACT.............................. 92-0425 Last action date: AUG-17-2001 Location: House Amendments to Bill: AMENDMENTS ADOPTED: HOUSE - 0 SENATE - 1 END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Status