HJ0037 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0037 LRB097 11725 CEL 54810 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Every county in Illinois is required to have an animal control agency or a County Board to carry out the Animal Control Act; and

WHEREAS, It is the duty of the Administrator of the Animal Control Act, through sterilization, humane education, rabies inoculation, stray control, impoundment, quarantine, and any other means deemed necessary, to control and prevent the spread of rabies and to exercise dog and cat overpopulation control; and

WHEREAS, The County Board is required to provide necessary personnel, training, equipment, supplies, and facilities and operate pounds or contract for their operation as necessary to effectuate the Animal Control Act; and

WHEREAS, Controlling dangerous dogs and centralized reporting of dangerous dogs and bite case data are important public health and safety issues; and

WHEREAS, Training and certification may help ensure a certain level of competency and preparation among animal control wardens; and

WHEREAS, 8 other states have instituted training programs for their animal control officers; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the General Assembly shall create a committee to explore dangerous dogs, bite statistics and reporting, and animal control training; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the committee shall hold a minimum of 3 hearings throughout the State, including one in Southern Illinois, and shall report its findings to the General Assembly on or before October 1, 2011, and, after the committee reports its findings, it is dissolved; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Agriculture shall provided administrative and other support to the committee; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the committee shall be co-chaired by a Representative appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and a Representative appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and a Senator appointed by the President of the Senate and a Senator appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the committee shall consist of 20 members in addition to the co-chairpersons as follows: one pet owner appointed by the Governor; one veterinarian appointed by the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association; one member appointed by the Illinois Farm Bureau; one employee of the Illinois Department of Agriculture appointed by the Director; one attorney appointed by the Illinois State Bar Association's Animal Law Section; one Illinois resident appointed by the Cat Fanciers Association; one person appointed by the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association; one humane society employee appointed by the Illinois Federation of Humane Societies; one animal control warden appointed by the Illinois Animal Control Association; one Illinois resident appointed by Best Friends Animal Society; one veterinarian appointed by Cook County Animal Control; one Assistant State's Attorney appointed by the Cook County State's Attorney's Office; one dog trainer appointed by PAWS Chicago; one Assistant State's Attorney appointed by the Madison County State's Attorney's Office; one member appointed by Safe Humane Chicago; one feral cat caretaker appointed by Alley Cat Allies; one animal behaviorist appointed by the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine; one breeder appointed by the Illinois Federation of Dog Clubs and Owners; one attorney appointed by the Chicago Bar Animal Law Committee; and one veterinarian appointed by the Animal Protective League of Springfield; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.