HB4643 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 24983 AMQ 34239 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB4643

Introduced 1/21/2022, by Rep. William Davis

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

30 ILCS 105/5.970 new
225 ILCS 605/3.6
225 ILCS 605/3.8
225 ILCS 605/3.9
225 ILCS 605/3.15
225 ILCS 605/7.2 new
225 ILCS 605/20	from Ch. 8, par. 320
225 ILCS 605/21.5 new
225 ILCS 605/22	from Ch. 8, par. 322

Amends the Animal Welfare Act. Provides that an animal shelter shall not accept a dog or cat from an animal shelter or an out-of-state animal control facility, rescue group, or animal shelter unless it obtains and keeps record of documentation attesting the dog or cat was not obtained through compensation or payment to a dog breeder or cat breeder. Provides that a pet shop operator must obtain specified documentation to verify a breeder meets or exceeds the relevant standards set by the Department of Agriculture. Provides that the Department, at any time, may mandate a pet shop operator to pay to have a dog or cat breeder audited by a third-party auditing firm to ensure compliance with cat and dog breeder standards. Provides that beginning 120 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, a $25 administrative fee shall be imposed on every dog or cat sold by a pet shop operator. Makes changes in provisions concerning the sourcing of dogs and cats sold by pet shops, disclosures for dogs and cats being sold by pet shops, violations, and fees. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Sourcing and Inspection Compliance Fund. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.970 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.970 new)

Sec. 5.970. The Sourcing and Inspection Compliance Fund.

Section 10. The Animal Welfare Act is amended by changing Sections 3.6, 3.8, 3.9, 3.15, 20, and 22 and by adding Sections 7.2 and 21.5 as follows:

(225 ILCS 605/3.6)

Sec. 3.6. Acceptance of stray dogs and cats.

(a) No animal shelter may accept a stray dog or cat unless the animal is reported by the shelter to the animal control or law enforcement of the county in which the animal is found by the next business day. An animal shelter may accept animals from: (1) the owner of the animal where the owner signs a relinquishment form which states he or she is the owner of the animal; (2) an animal shelter licensed under this Act; or (3) an out-of-state animal control facility, rescue group, or animal shelter that is duly licensed in their state or is a not-for-profit organization. An animal shelter shall not accept a dog or cat pursuant to item (2) or (3) unless it obtains and keeps record of documentation attesting the dog or cat was not obtained through compensation or payment to a dog breeder or cat breeder.

(b) When stray dogs and cats are accepted by an animal shelter, they must be scanned for the presence of a microchip and examined for other currently-acceptable methods of identification, including, but not limited to, identification tags, tattoos, and rabies license tags. The examination for identification shall be done within 24 hours after the intake of each dog or cat. The animal shelter shall notify the owner and transfer any dog with an identified owner to the animal control or law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction in which it was found or the local animal control agency for redemption.

(c) If no transfer can occur, the animal shelter shall make every reasonable attempt to contact the owner, agent, or caretaker as soon as possible. The animal shelter shall give notice of not less than 7 business days to the owner, agent, or caretaker prior to disposal of the animal. The notice shall be mailed to the last known address of the owner, agent, or caretaker. Testimony of the animal shelter, or its authorized agent, who mails the notice shall be evidence of the receipt of the notice by the owner, agent, or caretaker of the animal. A mailed notice shall remain the primary means of owner, agent, or caretaker contact; however, the animal shelter shall also attempt to contact the owner, agent, or caretaker by any other contact information, such as by telephone or email address, provided by the microchip or other method of identification found on the dog or cat. If the dog or cat has been microchipped and the primary contact listed by the chip manufacturer cannot be located or refuses to reclaim the dog or cat, an attempt shall be made to contact any secondary contacts listed by the chip manufacturer or the purchaser of the microchip if the purchaser is a nonprofit organization, animal shelter, animal control facility, pet store, breeder, or veterinary office prior to adoption, transfer, or euthanization. Prior to transferring any stray dog or cat to another humane shelter, pet store, rescue group, or euthanization, the dog or cat shall be scanned again for the presence of a microchip and examined for other means of identification. If a second scan provides the same identifying information as the initial intake scan and the owner, agent, or caretaker has not been located or refuses to reclaim the dog or cat, the animal shelter may proceed with adoption, transfer, or euthanization.

(d) When stray dogs and cats are accepted by an animal shelter and no owner can be identified, the shelter shall hold the animal for the period specified in local ordinance prior to adoption, transfer, or euthanasia. The animal shelter shall allow access to the public to view the animals housed there. If a dog is identified by an owner who desires to make redemption of it, the dog shall be transferred to the local animal control for redemption. If no transfer can occur, the animal shelter shall proceed pursuant to Section 3.7. Upon lapse of the hold period specified in local ordinance and no owner can be identified, ownership of the animal, by operation of law, transfers to the shelter that has custody of the animal.

(e) No representative of an animal shelter may enter private property and remove an animal without permission from the property owner and animal owner, nor can any representative of an animal shelter direct another individual to enter private property and remove an animal unless that individual is an approved humane investigator (approved by the Department) operating pursuant to the provisions of the Humane Care for Animals Act.

(f) Nothing in this Section limits an animal shelter and an animal control facility who, through mutual agreement, wish to enter into an agreement for animal control, boarding, holding, measures to improve life-saving, or other services provided that the agreement requires parties adhere to the provisions of the Animal Control Act, the Humane Euthanasia in Animal Shelters Act, and the Humane Care for Animals Act.

(Source: P.A. 99-310, eff. 1-1-16; 100-322, eff. 8-24-17; 100-870, eff. 1-1-19.)

(225 ILCS 605/3.8)

(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 102-586)

Sec. 3.8. Sourcing of dogs and cats sold by pet shops.

(a) A pet shop operator may not obtain a dog or cat for resale or sell or offer for sale any dog or cat obtained from a person who is required to be licensed by the pet dealer regulations of the United States Department of Agriculture under the federal Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.) if any of the following applies to the original breeder:

(1) The person is not currently licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture under the federal Animal Welfare Act.

(2) During the 2-year period before the day the dog or cat is received by the pet shop, the person received a direct or critical non-compliant citation on a final inspection report from the United States Department of Agriculture under the federal Animal Welfare Act.

(3) During the 2-year period before the day the dog or cat is received by the pet shop, the person received 3 or more non-compliant citations on a final inspection report from the United States Department of Agriculture for violations relating to the health or welfare of the animal and the violations were not administrative in nature.

(4) The person received a no-access violation on each of the 3 most recent final inspection reports from the United States Department of Agriculture.

(b) A pet shop operator is presumed to have acted in good faith and to have satisfied its obligation to ascertain whether a person meets the criteria described in subsection (a) of this Section if, when placing an order to obtain a dog or cat for sale or resale, the pet shop operator conducts a search for inspection reports that are readily available of the breeder on the Animal Care Information System online search tool maintained by the United States Department of Agriculture. If inspection reports are not readily available on the United States Department of Agriculture website, the pet shop operator must obtain the inspection reports from the person or persons required to meet the criteria described in subsection (a) of this Section.

(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this Section, a pet shop operator may obtain a dog or cat for resale or sell or offer for sale any dog or cat obtained from: (1) a person that sells dogs only he or she has produced and raised and who is not required to be licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture, (2) a publicly operated pound or a private non-profit humane society or rescue, or (3) an animal adoption event conducted by a pound or humane society.

(d) A pet shop operator shall maintain records verifying its compliance with this Section for 2 years after obtaining the dog or cat to be sold or offered for sale. Records maintained pursuant to this subsection (d) shall be open to inspection on request by a Department of Agriculture inspector.

(Source: P.A. 100-322, eff. 8-24-17.)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 102-586)

Sec. 3.8. Sourcing Prohibition of dogs and cats sold by pet shops; recordkeeping.

(a) A pet shop operator may offer for sale a dog or cat only if the dog or cat is obtained from a verified breeder, an animal control facility, or animal shelter, located in-state or out-of-state, that is in compliance with Section 3.9.

(b) A pet shop operator shall keep a record of each dog or cat offered for sale. The record must be kept on file for a period of 2 years following the acquisition of each dog or cat, made available to the Department upon request, and submitted to the Department on May 1 and November 1 of each year. The record shall include the following:

(1) name, address, and phone number of the verified breeder, animal control facility, or animal shelter each dog or cat was obtained from; and

(2) documentation from the verified breeder, animal control facility, or animal shelter each dog or cat was obtained from demonstrating compliance with Section 3.9, including the circumstances that led to the animal control facility or animal shelter obtaining ownership of the dog or cat and any other information indicating the dog or cat was not obtained from a source prohibited in Section 3.9.

(c) (Blank). In addition to the penalties set forth in Section 20.5, a pet shop operator that violates subsection (a) shall no longer offer for sale a dog or cat regardless of where the dog or cat was obtained.

(d) Nothing in this Section prohibits a pet shop operator from providing space to an animal control facility or animal shelter to showcase dogs or cats owned by these entities for the purpose of adoption.

(Source: P.A. 102-586, eff. 2-23-22.)

(225 ILCS 605/3.9)

(This Section may contain text from a Public Act with a delayed effective date)

Sec. 3.9. Verified breeders, animal Animal control facilities, and animal shelters supplying to pet shop operators.

(a) An animal control facility or animal shelter that supplies dogs or cats to pet shop operators to be offered for sale shall not be a dog breeder or a cat breeder or obtain dogs or cats from a dog breeder, a cat breeder, a person who resells dogs or cats from a breeder, or a person who sells dogs or cats at auction in exchange for payment or compensation.

(b) An animal control facility or animal shelter that supplies dogs or cats to pet shops to be offered for sale shall provide pet shops with documentation demonstrating compliance with this Section, including a description of the ownership history of each dog or cat supplied, if known, the circumstances that led to ownership of the dog or cat, and any other information indicating the dog or cat was not obtained from a source prohibited in this Section.

(c) To verify a breeder meets or exceeds the standards set forth in 8 Ill. Adm. Code 25, a pet shop operator must obtain a signed affidavit, or a document prescribed and provided by the Department, from the breeder stating compliance with the standards set by the Department and must be accompanied by one or more of the following documents: (1) copies of inspection reports over a 2-year period from the State or local governmental entity that has jurisdiction certifying the breeder meets or exceeds the standards within 8 Ill. Adm. Code 25; or (2) a copy of audit results, conducted within the past 16 months by an independent third party, certified as an ISO 9001 auditing firm, certifying the completion of an outcome-based breeder standards program that meets or exceeds the standards set forth in 8 Ill. Adm. Code 25. Failure to have copies of inspection or audit reports shall be deemed a violation under Section 10 of this Act.

(d) As used this Section:

"Outcome-based breeder standards program" means a program approved by the Department that tests for and certifies the physical welfare, behavioral welfare, and genetic health of the animal, in addition to certifying standards in areas such as nutrition, veterinary care, housing, handling, and exercise.

"Verified breeder" means a breeder that satisfies the requirements of subsection (c).

(Source: P.A. 102-586, eff. 2-23-22.)

(225 ILCS 605/3.15)

(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 102-586)

Sec. 3.15. Disclosures for dogs and cats being sold by pet shops.

(a) Prior to the time of sale, every pet shop operator must, to the best of his or her knowledge, provide to the consumer the following information on any dog or cat being offered for sale:

(1) The retail price of the dog or cat, including any additional fees or charges.

(2) The breed, age, date of birth, sex, and color of the dog or cat.

(3) The date and description of any inoculation or medical treatment that the dog or cat received while under the possession of the pet shop operator.

(4) The name and business address of both the dog or cat breeder and the facility where the dog or cat was born. If the dog or cat breeder is located in the State, then the breeder's license number. If the dog or cat breeder also holds a license issued by the United States Department of Agriculture, the breeder's federal license number.

(5) (Blank).

(6) If eligible for registration with a pedigree registry, then the name and registration numbers of the sire and dam and the address of the pedigree registry where the sire and dam are registered.

(7) If the dog or cat was returned by a customer, then the date and reason for the return.

(8) A copy of the pet shop's policy regarding warranties, refunds, or returns and an explanation of the remedy under subsections (f) through (m) of this Section in addition to any other remedies available at law.

(9) The pet shop operator's license number issued by the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

(10) Disclosure that the dog or cat has been microchipped and the microchip has been enrolled in a nationally searchable database. Pet stores must also disclose that the purchaser has the option to list the pet store as a secondary contact on the microchip.

(a-5) All dogs and cats shall be microchipped by a pet shop operator prior to sale.

(b) The information required in subsection (a) shall be provided to the customer in written form by the pet shop operator and shall have an acknowledgement of disclosures form, which must be signed by the customer and the pet shop operator at the time of sale. The acknowledgement of disclosures form shall include the following:

(1) A blank space for the dated signature and printed name of the pet shop operator, which shall be immediately beneath the following statement: "I hereby attest that all of the above information is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.".

(2) A blank space for the customer to sign and print his or her name and the date, which shall be immediately beneath the following statement: "I hereby attest that this disclosure was posted on or near the cage of the dog or cat for sale and that I have read all of the disclosures. I further understand that I am entitled to keep a signed copy of this disclosure.".

(c) A copy of the disclosures and the signed acknowledgement of disclosures form shall be provided to the customer at the time of sale and the original copy shall be maintained by the pet shop operator for a period of 2 years from the date of sale. A copy of the pet store operator's policy regarding warranties, refunds, or returns shall be provided to the customer.

(d) A pet shop operator shall post in a conspicuous place in writing on or near the cage of any dog or cat available for sale the information required by subsection (a) of this Section 3.15.

(e) If there is an outbreak of distemper, parvovirus, or any other contagious and potentially life-threatening disease, the pet shop operator shall notify the Department immediately upon becoming aware of the disease. If the Department issues a quarantine, the pet shop operator shall notify, in writing and within 2 business days of the quarantine, each customer who purchased a dog or cat during the 2-week period prior to the outbreak and quarantine.

(f) A customer who purchased a dog or cat from a pet shop is entitled to a remedy under this Section if:

(1) within 21 days after the date of sale, a licensed veterinarian states in writing that at the time of sale (A) the dog or cat was unfit for purchase due to illness or disease, the presence of symptoms of a contagious or infectious disease, or obvious signs of severe parasitism that are extreme enough to influence the general health of the animal, excluding fleas or ticks, or (B) the dog or cat has died from a disease that existed in the dog or cat on or before the date of delivery to the customer; or

(2) within one year after the date of sale, a licensed veterinarian states in writing that the dog or cat possesses a congenital or hereditary condition that adversely affects the health of the dog or cat or requires either hospitalization or a non-elective surgical procedure or has died of a congenital or hereditary condition. Internal or external parasites may not be considered to adversely affect the health of the dog unless the presence of the parasites makes the dog or cat clinically ill. The veterinarian's statement shall include:

(A) the customer's name and address;

(B) a statement that the veterinarian examined the dog or cat;

(C) the date or dates that the dog or cat was examined;

(D) the breed and age of the dog or cat, if known;

(E) a statement that the dog or cat has or had a disease, illness, or congenital or hereditary condition that is subject to remedy; and

(F) the findings of the examination or necropsy, including any lab results or copies of the results.

(g) A customer entitled to a remedy under subsection (f) of this Section may:

(1) return the dog or cat to the pet shop for a full refund of the purchase price;

(2) exchange the dog or cat for another dog or cat of comparable value chosen by the customer;

(3) retain the dog or cat and be reimbursed for reasonable veterinary fees for diagnosis and treatment of the dog or cat, not to exceed the purchase price of the dog or cat; or

(4) if the dog or cat is deceased, be reimbursed for the full purchase price of the dog or cat plus reasonable veterinary fees associated with the diagnosis and treatment of the dog or cat, not to exceed one times the purchase price of the dog or cat.

For the purposes of this subsection (g), veterinary fees shall be considered reasonable if (i) the services provided are appropriate for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease, illness, or congenital or hereditary condition and (ii) the cost of the services is comparable to that charged for similar services by other licensed veterinarians located in close proximity to the treating veterinarian.

(h) Unless the pet shop contests a reimbursement required under subsection (g) of this Section, the reimbursement shall be made to the customer no later than 10 business days after the pet shop operator receives the veterinarian's statement under subsection (f) of this Section.

(i) To obtain a remedy under this Section, a customer shall:

(1) notify the pet shop as soon as reasonably possible and not to exceed 3 business days after a diagnosis by a licensed veterinarian of a disease, illness, or congenital or hereditary condition of the dog or cat for which the customer is seeking a remedy;

(2) provide to the pet shop a written statement provided for under subsection (f) of this Section by a licensed veterinarian within 5 business days after a diagnosis by the veterinarian;

(3) upon request of the pet shop, take the dog or cat for an examination by a second licensed veterinarian; the customer may either choose the second licensed veterinarian or allow the pet shop to choose the second veterinarian, if the pet shop agrees to do so. The party choosing the second veterinarian shall assume the cost of the resulting examination; and

(4) if the customer requests a reimbursement of veterinary fees, provide to the pet shop an itemized bill for the disease, illness, or congenital or hereditary condition of the dog or cat for which the customer is seeking a remedy.

(j) A customer is not entitled to a remedy under this Section if:

(1) the illness or death resulted from: (A) maltreatment or neglect by the customer; (B) an injury sustained after the delivery of the dog or cat to the customer; or (C) an illness or disease contracted after the delivery of the dog or cat to the customer;

(2) the customer does not carry out the recommended treatment prescribed by the veterinarian who made the diagnosis; or

(3) the customer does not return to the pet shop all documents provided to register the dog or cat, unless the documents have already been sent to the registry organization.

(k) A pet shop may contest a remedy under this Section by having the dog or cat examined by a second licensed veterinarian pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection (i) of this Section if the dog or cat is still living. If the dog or cat is deceased, the pet shop may choose to have the second veterinarian review any records provided by the veterinarian who examined or treated the dog or cat for the customer before its death.

If the customer and the pet shop have not reached an agreement within 10 business days after the examination of the medical records and the dog or cat, if alive, or the dog's or cat's medical records, if deceased, by the second veterinarian, then:

(1) the customer may bring suit in a court of competent jurisdiction to resolve the dispute; or

(2) if the customer and the pet shop agree in writing, the parties may submit the dispute to binding arbitration.

If the court or arbiter finds that either party acted in bad faith in seeking or denying the requested remedy, then the offending party may be required to pay reasonable attorney's fees and court costs of the adverse party.

(l) This Section shall not apply to any adoption of dogs or cats, including those in which a pet shop or other organization rents or donates space to facilitate the adoption.

(m) If a pet shop offers its own warranty on a pet, a customer may choose to waive the remedies provided under subsection (f) of this Section in favor of choosing the warranty provided by the pet shop. If a customer waives the rights provided by subsection (f), the only remedies available to the customer are those provided by the pet shop's warranty. For the statement to be an effective waiver of the customer's right to refund or exchange the animal under subsection (f), the pet shop must provide, in writing, a statement of the remedy under subsection (f) that the customer is waiving as well as a written copy of the pet shop's warranty. For the statement to be an effective waiver of the customer's right to refund or exchange the animal under subsection (f), it shall be substantially similar to the following language:

"I have agreed to accept the warranty provided by the pet shop in lieu of the remedies under subsection (f) of Section 3.15 of the Animal Welfare Act. I have received a copy of the pet shop's warranty and a statement of the remedies provided under subsection (f) of Section 3.15 of the Animal Welfare Act. This is a waiver pursuant to subsection (m) of Section 3.15 of the Animal Welfare Act whereby I, the customer, relinquish any and all right to return the animal for congenital and hereditary disorders provided by subsection (f) of Section 3.15 of the Animal Welfare Act. I agree that my exclusive remedy is the warranty provided by the pet shop at the time of sale.".

(Source: P.A. 100-322, eff. 8-24-17.)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 102-586)

Sec. 3.15. Disclosures for dogs and cats being sold by pet shops.

(a) Prior to the time of sale, every pet shop operator must, to the best of his or her knowledge, provide to the consumer the following information on any dog or cat being offered for sale:

(1) The retail price of the dog or cat, including any additional fees or charges.

(2) The breed or breeds, if known, age, date of birth, sex, and color of the dog or cat.

(3) The date and description of any inoculation or medical treatment that the dog or cat received while under the possession of the pet shop operator, and any inoculation or medical treatment that the dog or cat received while under the possession of the breeder, animal control facility, or animal shelter that the pet shop operator is aware of.

(4) Sourcing information required in subsection (b) of Section 3.8.

(5) (Blank).

(6) (Blank).

(7) If the dog or cat was returned by a customer, then the date and reason for the return.

(8) A copy of the pet shop's policy regarding warranties, refunds, or returns and an explanation of the remedy under subsections (f) through (m) of this Section in addition to any other remedies available at law.

(9) The pet shop operator's license number issued by the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

(10) Disclosure that the dog or cat has been microchipped and the microchip has been enrolled in a nationally searchable database. Pet stores must also disclose that the purchaser has the option to list the pet store as a secondary contact on the microchip.

(11) If eligible for registration with a pedigree registry, then the name and registration numbers of the sire and dam and the address of the pedigree registry where the sire and dam are registered.

(a-5) All dogs and cats shall be microchipped by a pet shop operator prior to sale.

(b) The information required in subsection (a) shall be provided to the customer in written form by the pet shop operator and shall have an acknowledgement of disclosures form, which must be signed by the customer and the pet shop operator at the time of sale. The acknowledgement of disclosures form shall include the following:

(1) A blank space for the dated signature and printed name of the pet shop operator, which shall be immediately beneath the following statement: "I hereby attest that all of the above information is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.".

(2) A blank space for the customer to sign and print his or her name and the date, which shall be immediately beneath the following statement: "I hereby attest that this disclosure was posted on or near the cage of the dog or cat for sale and that I have read all of the disclosures. I further understand that I am entitled to keep a signed copy of this disclosure.".

(c) A copy of the disclosures and the signed acknowledgement of disclosures form shall be provided to the customer at the time of sale and the original copy shall be maintained by the pet shop operator for a period of 2 years from the date of sale. A copy of the pet store operator's policy regarding warranties, refunds, or returns shall be provided to the customer.

(d) A pet shop operator shall post in writing on or near the cage of any dog or cat available for sale the information required by subsection (a) of this Section 3.15.

(e) If there is an outbreak of distemper, parvovirus, or any other contagious and potentially life-threatening disease, the pet shop operator shall notify the Department immediately upon becoming aware of the disease. If the Department issues a quarantine, the pet shop operator shall notify, in writing and within 2 business days of the quarantine, each customer who purchased a dog or cat during the 2-week period prior to the outbreak and quarantine.

(f) A customer who purchased a dog or cat from a pet shop is entitled to a remedy under this Section if:

(1) within 21 days after the date of sale, a licensed veterinarian states in writing that at the time of sale (A) the dog or cat was unfit for purchase due to illness or disease, the presence of symptoms of a contagious or infectious disease, or obvious signs of severe parasitism that are extreme enough to influence the general health of the animal, excluding fleas or ticks, or (B) the dog or cat has died from a disease that existed in the dog or cat on or before the date of delivery to the customer; or

(2) within one year after the date of sale, a licensed veterinarian states in writing that the dog or cat possesses a congenital or hereditary condition that adversely affects the health of the dog or cat or requires either hospitalization or a non-elective surgical procedure or has died of a congenital or hereditary condition. Internal or external parasites may not be considered to adversely affect the health of the dog unless the presence of the parasites makes the dog or cat clinically ill. The veterinarian's statement shall include:

(A) the customer's name and address;

(B) a statement that the veterinarian examined the dog or cat;

(C) the date or dates that the dog or cat was examined;

(D) the breed and age of the dog or cat, if known;

(E) a statement that the dog or cat has or had a disease, illness, or congenital or hereditary condition that is subject to remedy; and

(F) the findings of the examination or necropsy, including any lab results or copies of the results.

(g) A customer entitled to a remedy under subsection (f) of this Section may:

(1) return the dog or cat to the pet shop for a full refund of the purchase price;

(2) exchange the dog or cat for another dog or cat of comparable value chosen by the customer;

(3) retain the dog or cat and be reimbursed for reasonable veterinary fees for diagnosis and treatment of the dog or cat, not to exceed the purchase price of the dog or cat; or

(4) if the dog or cat is deceased, be reimbursed for the full purchase price of the dog or cat plus reasonable veterinary fees associated with the diagnosis and treatment of the dog or cat, not to exceed one times the purchase price of the dog or cat.

For the purposes of this subsection (g), veterinary fees shall be considered reasonable if (i) the services provided are appropriate for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease, illness, or congenital or hereditary condition and (ii) the cost of the services is comparable to that charged for similar services by other licensed veterinarians located in close proximity to the treating veterinarian.

(h) Unless the pet shop contests a reimbursement required under subsection (g) of this Section, the reimbursement shall be made to the customer no later than 10 business days after the pet shop operator receives the veterinarian's statement under subsection (f) of this Section.

(i) To obtain a remedy under this Section, a customer shall:

(1) notify the pet shop as soon as reasonably possible and not to exceed 3 business days after a diagnosis by a licensed veterinarian of a disease, illness, or congenital or hereditary condition of the dog or cat for which the customer is seeking a remedy;

(2) provide to the pet shop a written statement provided for under subsection (f) of this Section by a licensed veterinarian within 5 business days after a diagnosis by the veterinarian;

(3) upon request of the pet shop, take the dog or cat for an examination by a second licensed veterinarian; the customer may either choose the second licensed veterinarian or allow the pet shop to choose the second veterinarian, if the pet shop agrees to do so. The party choosing the second veterinarian shall assume the cost of the resulting examination; and

(4) if the customer requests a reimbursement of veterinary fees, provide to the pet shop an itemized bill for the disease, illness, or congenital or hereditary condition of the dog or cat for which the customer is seeking a remedy.

(j) A customer is not entitled to a remedy under this Section if:

(1) the illness or death resulted from: (A) maltreatment or neglect by the customer; (B) an injury sustained after the delivery of the dog or cat to the customer; or (C) an illness or disease contracted after the delivery of the dog or cat to the customer;

(2) the customer does not carry out the recommended treatment prescribed by the veterinarian who made the diagnosis; or

(3) the customer does not return to the pet shop all documents provided to register the dog or cat, unless the documents have already been sent to the registry organization.

(k) A pet shop may contest a remedy under this Section by having the dog or cat examined by a second licensed veterinarian pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection (i) of this Section if the dog or cat is still living. If the dog or cat is deceased, the pet shop may choose to have the second veterinarian review any records provided by the veterinarian who examined or treated the dog or cat for the customer before its death.

If the customer and the pet shop have not reached an agreement within 10 business days after the examination of the medical records and the dog or cat, if alive, or the dog's or cat's medical records, if deceased, by the second veterinarian, then:

(1) the customer may bring suit in a court of competent jurisdiction to resolve the dispute; or

(2) if the customer and the pet shop agree in writing, the parties may submit the dispute to binding arbitration.

If the court or arbiter finds that either party acted in bad faith in seeking or denying the requested remedy, then the offending party may be required to pay reasonable attorney's fees and court costs of the adverse party.

(l) This Section shall not apply to any adoption of dogs or cats, including those in which a pet shop or other organization rents or donates space to facilitate the adoption.

(m) If a pet shop offers its own warranty on a pet, a customer may choose to waive the remedies provided under subsection (f) of this Section in favor of choosing the warranty provided by the pet shop. If a customer waives the rights provided by subsection (f), the only remedies available to the customer are those provided by the pet shop's warranty. For the statement to be an effective waiver of the customer's right to refund or exchange the animal under subsection (f), the pet shop must provide, in writing, a statement of the remedy under subsection (f) that the customer is waiving as well as a written copy of the pet shop's warranty. For the statement to be an effective waiver of the customer's right to refund or exchange the animal under subsection (f), it shall be substantially similar to the following language:

"I have agreed to accept the warranty provided by the pet shop in lieu of the remedies under subsection (f) of Section 3.15 of the Animal Welfare Act. I have received a copy of the pet shop's warranty and a statement of the remedies provided under subsection (f) of Section 3.15 of the Animal Welfare Act. This is a waiver pursuant to subsection (m) of Section 3.15 of the Animal Welfare Act whereby I, the customer, relinquish any and all right to return the animal for congenital and hereditary disorders provided by subsection (f) of Section 3.15 of the Animal Welfare Act. I agree that my exclusive remedy is the warranty provided by the pet shop at the time of sale.".

(Source: P.A. 102-586, eff. 2-23-22.)

(225 ILCS 605/7.2 new)

Sec. 7.2. Sourcing compliance.

(a) The Department may, at any time, request copies of all inspection reports, audit reports, affidavits, health certificates, and microchipping records of any licensee to verify compliance with this Act.

(b) If a pet store provides incomplete or out-of-date copies of inspection or audit reports, the Department may require a pet shop operator pay to have a dog or cat breeder audited by an independent third party, certified as an ISO-9001 auditing firm, certifying the breeder is in compliance with this Act. The audit report shall be sent directly to the Department. The Department shall notify the pet shop operator of the audit results, and failure of the breeder to pass an audit ordered by the Department shall be deemed a violation of Section 10 of this Act by the pet shop operator.

(225 ILCS 605/20) (from Ch. 8, par. 320)

(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 102-586)

Sec. 20. Any person violating any provision of this Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Department issued pursuant to this Act is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor and every day a violation continues constitutes a separate offense.

(Source: P.A. 89-178, eff. 7-19-95.)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 102-586)

Sec. 20. Any person violating any provision of this Act, other than a violation of Section 3.8 of this Act, or any rule, regulation, or order of the Department issued pursuant to this Act is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor and every day a violation continues constitutes a separate offense.

(Source: P.A. 102-586, eff. 2-23-22.)

(225 ILCS 605/21.5 new)

Sec. 21.5. Administrative fee on sales of dogs and cats by pet shop operators. Beginning 120 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, a $25 administrative fee shall be imposed on every dog or cat sold by a pet shop operator. All fees collected under this Section shall be deposited into the Sourcing and Inspection Compliance Fund, which shall be created as a nonappropriated fund administered by the Department for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department in the administration of this Section.

(225 ILCS 605/22) (from Ch. 8, par. 322)

Sec. 22. Except those fees paid pursuant to Section 21.5 of this Act, all All fees and other money received by the Department under this Act shall be paid into the General Revenue Fund in the State Treasury.

(Source: Laws 1965, p. 2956.)

Section 95. No acceleration or delay. Where this Act makes changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by text that is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a Section represented by multiple versions), the use of that text does not accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i) the changes made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from any other Public Act. Effective immediately.

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