Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB4213

Amends the Animal Control Act. Requires owners of dangerous and vicious dogs to maintain liability insurance for damage, injury, and death caused by the dog. Requires that a dog's breed be considered in the determination of the dog as dangerous or vicious if the dog is of a breed presumed to be a dangerous or vicious breed. Authorizes municipalities and other political subdivisions to ban those breeds and to regulate dogs by breed. Changes the physical requirements for keeping dangerous and vicious dogs. Beginning January 1, 2007, creates, and changes the penalties for existing, offenses with respect to dangerous and vicious dogs. Effective immediately.

Deletes everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Counties Code to provide that penalties for dogs running at large may be issued for areas of the county (now, unincorporated areas of the county) which have been subdivided for residential purposes. Eliminates a limitation on fines or penalties in excess of $50 for a single such violation of this provision. Amends the Animal Control Act. Provides that a county board may appoint an administrative hearing officer to conduct an administrative hearing to determine a dog "vicious" under the Act. Authorizes an animal control officer or law enforcement officer who determines, upon investigation, that probable cause exists to believe a dog poses an immediate threat to public safety to seize and impound the dog. Provides that a dog found to be a vicious dog shall be euthanized. Sets forth that all costs of impoundment, disposition, boarding, medical, or other costs related to the determination of a vicious dog shall be borne by the owner if the animal is found to be vicious. Requires the Department to establish and maintain an Internet website containing information on dogs declared vicious or dangerous. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. In a Section setting forth reasons to impose an extended term sentence, authorizes such an extension when a defendant commits any felony and the defendant used, possessed, exercised, control over, or otherwise directed an animal to assault a law enforcement officer engaged in the execution of his or her official duties or in furtherance of the criminal activities of an organized gang in which the defendant is engaged. Effective immediately.

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