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1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The unintended or uncontrolled breeding of cats
3leads to the births of thousands of kittens annually, many of
4whom become feral cats, often referred to as "community cats";
5and
 
6    WHEREAS, There is a need to preserve wildlife, improve cat
7welfare, maintain property rights, and enhance public health by
8humanely managing and limiting the growth of the number of
9feral cats in Illinois; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Feral cats are often impounded and killed, at
11great expense to the community; and
 
12    WHEREAS, The eradication approach used for generations has
13failed to adequately address the issue of feral cats, thereby
14requiring a more effective approach; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Trap, neuter, vaccinate, and return programs that
16provide humane and effective methods to manage and limit the
17growth of the number of feral or community cats, prevent the
18spread of rabies, and improve the cats' quality of life, are
19recognized as beneficial and popular approaches; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Management of feral cats is also affected by local

 

 

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1government ordinances; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Communities in other states have developed
3successful programs to manage feral cats; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Numerous Good Samaritans and farmers provide
5life-sustaining care for feral or community cats and are not,
6according to the Illinois Animal Control Act, considered owners
7of the cats; therefore, be it
 
8    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
9ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
10CONCURRING HEREIN, that a Feral Cat Task Force be appointed to
11examine the Animal Control Act, the Humane Care for Animals
12Act, and the Animal Welfare Act and any other relevant
13statutory provisions and make comprehensive written
14recommendations for change that would result in the effective
15management of feral and community cats; and be it further
 
16    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall consist of the
17following 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
5Chairperson from among themselves; and be it further
 
6    RESOLVED, That appointments to the Task Force must be made
7by July 1, 2016; and be it further
 
8    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall hold at least 3
9hearings, which shall each be held in geographically separate
10regions of the State; and be it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall present a written
12report to the Senate and the House of Representatives no later
13than December 31, 2016; and be it further
 
14    RESOLVED, That the Task Force members shall receive no
15compensation, and shall conclude all business by January 1,
162017; and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
18delivered to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the
19House, the Minority Leader of the Senate, and the Minority
20Leader of the House of Representatives.