102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB2059

 

Introduced 2/26/2021, by Sen. John F. Curran

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
510 ILCS 5/8  from Ch. 8, par. 358

    Amends the Animal Control Act. Provides that, if a bite occurs from an exempt animal, the exempt animal shall be treated as an unvaccinated animal and, if a rabies titer has been administered, the animal will be treated as a vaccinated animal. Provides that, if the animal is exempt, the animal shall be re-examined by a licensed veterinarian on no less than an annual basis and be vaccinated against rabies as soon as the animal's health permits or if deemed necessary by a rabies titer.


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A BILL FOR

 

SB2059LRB102 15826 KMF 21194 b

1    AN ACT concerning animals.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Animal Control Act is amended by changing
5Section 8 as follows:
 
6    (510 ILCS 5/8)  (from Ch. 8, par. 358)
7    Sec. 8. Rabies inoculation.
8    (a) Every owner of a dog 4 months or more of age shall have
9each dog inoculated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian.
10Every dog shall have a second rabies vaccination within one
11year of the first. Terms of subsequent vaccine administration
12and duration of immunity must be in compliance with USDA
13licenses of vaccines used.
14    (b) Every owner of a cat that is a companion animal and is
154 months or more of age shall have each cat inoculated against
16rabies by a licensed veterinarian. Every cat that is a
17companion animal shall have a second rabies vaccination within
18one year of the first. Terms of subsequent vaccine
19administration and duration of immunity must be in compliance
20with USDA licenses of vaccines used. This subsection (b) does
21not apply to feral cats; however, if a feral cat is presented
22to a licensed veterinarian for sterilization, the feral cat
23shall be inoculated against rabies, unless the person

 

 

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1presenting the feral cat for care provides an inoculation
2certificate showing that the feral cat has been inoculated
3against rabies, and the cost of the inoculation shall be paid
4by the person presenting the feral cat to a licensed
5veterinarian for care.
6    (c) A veterinarian immunizing a dog, cat, or ferret
7against rabies shall provide the Administrator of the county
8in which the dog, cat, or ferret resides with a certificate of
9immunization. Evidence of such rabies inoculation shall be
10entered on a certificate the form of which shall be approved by
11the Board and which shall contain the microchip number of the
12dog, cat, or ferret if it has one and which shall be signed by
13the licensed veterinarian administering the vaccine. Only one
14dog, cat, or ferret shall be included on each certificate.
15    (d) Veterinarians who inoculate a dog shall procure from
16the County Animal Control in the county where their office is
17located serially numbered tags, one to be issued with each
18inoculation certificate. The Board shall cause a rabies
19inoculation tag to be issued, at a fee established by the Board
20for each dog inoculated against rabies.
21    (e) A veterinarian who inoculates a cat that is a
22companion animal shall issue an inoculation certificate to the
23owner which shall comply with any registration requirements
24adopted by the county under Section 3 of this Act. The owner
25shall pay any fee imposed by the county under Section 3 of this
26Act. A veterinarian who inoculates a feral cat shall issue an

 

 

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1inoculation certificate to the person who presented the feral
2cat for veterinary care. The registration requirements or any
3fee imposed by the county under Section 3 of this Act shall not
4apply to feral cats.
5    (f) Rabies vaccine for use on animals shall be sold or
6distributed only to and used only by licensed veterinarians.
7Such rabies vaccine shall be licensed by the United States
8Department of Agriculture.
9    (g) If a licensed veterinarian determines in writing that
10a rabies inoculation would compromise an animal's health, then
11the animal shall be exempt from the rabies inoculation
12requirement, however, the owner is still responsible for the
13tag fees.
14    (h) If a bite occurs from an exempt animal, the exempt
15animal shall be treated as an unvaccinated animal. If a rabies
16titer has been administered, the animal will be treated as a
17vaccinated animal. If the animal is exempt, the animal shall
18be re-examined by a licensed veterinarian on no less than an
19annual basis and be vaccinated against rabies as soon as the
20animal's health permits or if deemed necessary by a rabies
21titer..
22(Source: P.A. 101-299, eff. 1-1-20.)