(510 ILCS 72/35)

Sec. 35. Technician certification; duties.

(a) An applicant for certification as a euthanasia technician shall file an application with the Department and shall:

(1) Be 18 years of age.

(2) Be of good moral character. In determining moral character under this Section, the Department may take into consideration whether the applicant has engaged in conduct or activities that would constitute grounds for discipline under this Act.

(3) Each applicant for certification as a euthanasia technician shall have his or her fingerprints submitted to the Illinois State Police in an electronic format that complies with the form and manner for requesting and furnishing criminal history record information as prescribed by the Illinois State Police. These fingerprints shall be checked against the Illinois State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history record databases now and hereafter filed. The Illinois State Police shall charge applicants a fee for conducting the criminal history records check, which shall be deposited in the State Police Services Fund and shall not exceed the actual cost of the records check. The Illinois State Police shall furnish, pursuant to positive identification, records of Illinois convictions to the Department.

(4) Hold a license or certification from the American Humane Association, the National Animal Control Association, the Illinois Federation of Humane Societies, or the Humane Society of the United States issued within 3 years preceding the date of application. Every 5 years a certified euthanasia technician must renew his or her certification with the Department. At the time of renewal, the technician must present proof that he or she attended a class or seminar, administered by the American Humane Association, the National Animal Control Association, the Illinois Federation of Humane Societies, or the Humane Society of the United States, that teaches techniques or guidelines, or both, for humane animal euthanasia.

(5) Pay the required fee.

(b) The duties of a euthanasia technician shall include but are not limited to:

(1) preparing animals for euthanasia and scanning each animal, prior to euthanasia, for microchips;

(2) accurately recording the dosages administered and the amount of drugs wasted;

(3) ordering supplies;

(4) maintaining the security of all controlled substances and drugs;

(5) humanely euthanizing animals via intravenous injection by hypodermic needle, intraperitoneal injection by hypodermic needle, or intracardiac injection only on comatose animals by hypodermic needle; and

(6) properly disposing of euthanized animals after verification of death.

(c) A euthanasia technician employed by a euthanasia agency may perform euthanasia by the administration of a Schedule II or Schedule III nonnarcotic controlled substance. A euthanasia technician may not personally possess, order, or administer a controlled substance except as an agent of the euthanasia agency.

(d) Upon termination from a euthanasia agency, a euthanasia technician shall not perform animal euthanasia until he or she is employed by another certified euthanasia agency.

(e) A certified euthanasia technician or an instructor in an approved course does not engage in the practice of veterinary medicine when performing duties set forth in this Act.

(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21.)