103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB3262

 

Introduced 2/6/2024, by Sen. Linda Holmes

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Mink Facility Disease Prevention Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2025, a person may not own or operate a mink enterprise in the State. Specifies that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor. Defines terms.


LRB103 36893 JAG 67005 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB3262LRB103 36893 JAG 67005 b

1    AN ACT concerning health.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Mink
5Facility Disease Prevention Act.
 
6    Section 5. Findings; purpose.
7    (a) The General Assembly finds that:
8        (1) Minks' upper respiratory tracts are
9    physiologically similar to humans, which means minks can
10    become infected by, and potentially transmit to humans,
11    respiratory viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2 and avian
12    influenza.
13        (2) Minks' susceptibility to acquiring and spreading
14    both human and animal respiratory viruses render them
15    potentially potent mixing vessels for generating novel
16    pandemic viruses.
17        (3) Tens of thousands of mink in the United States,
18    and millions worldwide, have been infected with
19    SARS-CoV-2, and there have been documented cases where
20    mink have transmitted the virus to humans.
21        (4) Animal management and slaughter practices on mink
22    farms have facilitated the spread of SARS-CoV-2 from
23    humans to mink. These farms confine large numbers of

 

 

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1    animals in close proximity to each other, which promotes
2    disease transmission. The mink also experience extreme
3    stress, which increases the potential to shed and transmit
4    viruses over extended periods. This risk is further
5    exacerbated by on-site slaughter practices that create
6    additional points of exposure.
7    (b) It is the purpose of this Act to protect public health
8and human safety by prohibiting the farming of mink for their
9fur in this State.
 
10    Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:
11    "Department" means the Department of Public Health.
12    "Mink" means American mink (Neovison vison), European mink
13(Mustela lutreola), and any mink hybrid, whether alive or
14dead, and any parts and products of mink or mink hybrids.
15    "Mink facility" means any operation in which mink, for the
16value of their fur, are owned, controlled, raised, bred,
17propagated, kept, slaughtered, skinned, or sold.
18    "Person" includes any individual, firm corporation, trust,
19association, co-partnership, society, or other organization of
20individuals and any other business unit, device, or
21arrangement.
 
22    Section 15. Prohibition on mink farming. Beginning January
231, 2025, a person may not own or operate a mink enterprise in
24the State.
 

 

 

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1    Section 20. Violations. A person who is convicted of a
2violation of this Act is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor. The
3Department, or representative of a unit of local government or
4health department approved by the Department for this purpose,
5shall report any violation of this Act to the State's Attorney
6of the county in which the violation occurred. The State's
7Attorney may charge a person who violates this Act with a Class
8C misdemeanor. Each day's violation constitutes a separate
9offense.