Full Text of SJR0053 99th General Assembly
SJ0053 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 1 | | SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, The unintended or uncontrolled breeding of cats | 3 | | leads to the births of thousands of kittens annually, many of | 4 | | whom become feral cats, often referred to as "community cats"; | 5 | | and
| 6 | | WHEREAS, There is a need to preserve wildlife, improve cat | 7 | | welfare, maintain property rights, and enhance public health by | 8 | | humanely managing and limiting the growth of the number of | 9 | | feral cats in Illinois; and
| 10 | | WHEREAS, Feral cats are often impounded and killed, at | 11 | | great expense to the community; and
| 12 | | WHEREAS, The eradication approach used for generations has | 13 | | failed to adequately address the issue of feral cats, thereby | 14 | | requiring a more effective approach; and
| 15 | | WHEREAS, Trap, neuter, vaccinate, and return programs that | 16 | | provide humane and effective methods to manage and limit the | 17 | | growth of the number of feral or community cats, prevent the | 18 | | spread of rabies, and improve the cats' quality of life, are | 19 | | recognized as beneficial and popular approaches; and | 20 | | WHEREAS, Management of feral cats is also affected by local |
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| 1 | | government ordinances; and | 2 | | WHEREAS, Communities in other states have developed | 3 | | successful programs to manage feral cats; and
| 4 | | WHEREAS, Numerous Good Samaritans and farmers provide | 5 | | life-sustaining care for feral or community cats and are not, | 6 | | according to the Illinois Animal Control Act, considered owners | 7 | | of the cats; therefore, be it
| 8 | | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL | 9 | | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES | 10 | | CONCURRING HEREIN, that a Feral Cat Task Force be appointed to | 11 | | examine the Animal Control Act, the Humane Care for Animals | 12 | | Act, and the Animal Welfare Act and any other relevant | 13 | | statutory provisions and make comprehensive written | 14 | | recommendations for change that would result in the effective | 15 | | management of feral and community cats; and be it further | 16 | | RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall consist of the | 17 | | following members: | 18 | | (1) the President of the Senate, or his designee; | 19 | | (2) the Speaker of the House or his designee; | 20 | | (3) the Minority Leader of the Senate or her designee; | 21 | | (4) the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives or | 22 | | his designee; |
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| 1 | | (5) a representative appointed by the Department of | 2 | | Agriculture; | 3 | | (6) a representative appointed by the Department of Natural | 4 | | Resources; | 5 | | (7) a representative appointed by the Illinois State | 6 | | Veterinary Medical Association; | 7 | | (8) a representative appointed by the Illinois | 8 | | Environmental Council; | 9 | | (9) a representative who is a county animal control | 10 | | administrator from a county of over 4 million residents; | 11 | | (10) a representative who is on the Board of the Alliance | 12 | | for Contraception in Cats & Dogs (ACCD) appointed by the | 13 | | University of Illinois School of Veterinary Medicine; | 14 | | (11) a representative appointed by Best Friends Animal | 15 | | Society; | 16 | | (12) a representative appointed by the Illinois Farm | 17 | | Bureau; | 18 | | (13) a representative appointed by the Illinois Humane | 19 | | Society; | 20 | | (14) a representative appointed by the Sierra Club; | 21 | | (15) a representative appointed by the National Wildlife | 22 | | Federation; | 23 | | (16) a representative appointed by the County Animal | 24 | | Controls of Illinois representing a county with a | 25 | | population of less than 2 million; | 26 | | (17) a representative from the Tree House Humane Society; |
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| 1 | | and | 2 | | (18) a representative from the Animal Protective League of | 3 | | Springfield; and be it further | 4 | | RESOLVED, That the Task Force members shall select a | 5 | | Chairperson from among themselves; and be it further | 6 | | RESOLVED, That appointments to the Task Force must be made | 7 | | by July 1, 2016; and be it further | 8 | | RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall hold at least 3 | 9 | | hearings, which shall each be held in geographically separate | 10 | | regions of the State; and be it further | 11 | | RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall present a written | 12 | | report to the Senate and the House of Representatives no later | 13 | | than December 31, 2016; and be it further | 14 | | RESOLVED, That the Task Force members shall receive no | 15 | | compensation, and shall conclude all business by January 1, | 16 | | 2017; and be it further | 17 | | RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be | 18 | | delivered to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the | 19 | | House, the Minority Leader of the Senate, and the Minority | 20 | | Leader of the House of Representatives.
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