SJ0056enr 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

09600SJ0056 Enrolled LRB096 12143 ASK 24390 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 56

WHEREAS, Illinois citizens have the right to purchase quality purebred dogs, produced by responsible breeders; and

WHEREAS, Illinois is committed to preventing dogs from being housed in breeding facilities or pet stores that are overcrowded, unsanitary, and lacking proper shelter and care; and

WHEREAS, Breeding facilities with unsanitary conditions create the potential for soil and groundwater contamination, the spread of zoonotic parasites and infectious diseases, and the sale of sick and dying animals to the public; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is established a Joint Task Force on Breeders and Pet Stores to investigate and make recommendations regarding these 2 industries; issues that may be examined include, but are not limited to the following: (1) humane care and treatment for dogs at pet stores and breeding facilities, (2) creating more specific requirements for indoor and outdoor kennel facilities to ensure the health and welfare of dogs used for commercial purposes, (3) establishing more detailed specifications so that indoor and outdoor facilities provide dogs with proper shelter, temperature control, ventilation, air movement, lighting, bedding, sanitation, slope of ground and run, and flooring materials, (4) creating more detailed record keeping requirements for breeders and pet stores, (5) ensuring that consumers are provided adequate information prior to the time of sale of dogs, (6) ensuring that dogs being sold are healthy, and (7) amending animal welfare laws to address these specific issues as well as related yet broader issues that could be addressed through such laws; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the members of the Joint Task Force shall include: one member appointed by the President of the Senate; one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; one member appointed by the Speaker of the House; one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House; the Director of Agriculture or his or her designee, who shall serve as the Chairperson; the Director of Agriculture shall appoint 5 members to represent the animal welfare community, including 2 members from national organizations and 3 members representing the shelter community and animal rescue community; the Director of Agriculture shall also appoint one member representing the small scale breeding community, one member representing the sporting dog community, one member representing the large scale breeding community, one member representing the pet store industry, and one member representing the Illinois Veterinarians; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Agriculture shall provide administrative and other support to the Joint Task Force and meet at the call of the chairperson; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Director of Agriculture or his or her designee shall serve as the Chairperson; the Joint Task Force shall have a minimum of 3 meetings; and the members shall serve without compensation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Joint Task Force shall report its findings and legislative recommendations to the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House by January 1, 2010; and that upon filing its report the Joint Task Force is dissolved; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be delivered to the Director of the Department of Agriculture.