101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
SB0131

 

Introduced 1/29/2019, by Sen. Jil Tracy

 

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

    Amends the Animal Control Act. Provides that every owner of a cat that is a companion animal and is 4 months or more of age shall have each cat inoculated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian. Provides that every cat that is a companion animal shall have a second rabies vaccination within one year of the first. Provides that the provision does not apply to feral cats; however, if a feral cat is presented to a licensed veterinarian for sterilization, the feral cat shall be inoculated against rabies, unless the person presenting the feral cat for care provides an inoculation certificate showing that the feral cat has been inoculated against rabies, and the cost of the inoculation shall be paid by the person presenting the feral cat to a licensed veterinarian for care. Provides that a veterinarian who inoculates a feral cat shall issue an inoculation certificate to the person who presented the feral cat for veterinary care. Makes other technical changes.


LRB101 07265 SLF 52304 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB0131LRB101 07265 SLF 52304 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 against
7rabies shall provide the Administrator of the county in which
8the 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 companion
22animal shall issue an inoculation certificate to the owner
23which shall comply with any registration requirements adopted
24by the county under Section 3 of this Act. The owner shall pay
25any fee imposed by the county under Section 3 of this Act. A
26veterinarian 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.
3    (f) Rabies vaccine for use on animals shall be sold or
4distributed only to and used only by licensed veterinarians.
5Such rabies vaccine shall be licensed by the United States
6Department of Agriculture.
7    (g) If a licensed veterinarian determines in writing that a
8rabies inoculation would compromise an animal's health, then
9the animal shall be exempt from the rabies inoculation
10requirement, however, the owner is still responsible for the
11tag fees.
12    (h) If a bite occurs from an exempt animal, the exempt
13animal shall be treated as an unvaccinated animal. If the
14animal is exempt, the animal shall be re-examined by a licensed
15veterinarian on no less than an annual basis and be vaccinated
16against rabies as soon as the animal's health permits.
17(Source: P.A. 99-658, eff. 7-28-16.)