SJ0053enr 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY


  

 


 
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1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 53

 
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, Trap, neuter, vaccinate, and return programs
13attempt to manage and limit the growth of the number of feral
14or community cats; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Management of feral cats is also affected by local
16government ordinances; and
 
17    WHEREAS, The Illinois Animal Population Control Fund plays
18an important role in helping communities pay for community
19control efforts; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
2ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
3CONCURRING HEREIN, that a Feral Cat Task Force be appointed to
4examine the Animal Control Act, the Humane Care for Animals
5Act, the Animal Welfare Act, and any other relevant statutory
6provisions, including the Illinois Animal Population Control
7Fund, other trap, neuter, and return programs in other states,
8trap and adopt programs, or other proposed solutions to this
9issue and make comprehensive written recommendations for
10change that would result in the effective management of feral
11and community cats, preserve wildlife, improve cat welfare,
12maintain property rights, and enhance public health; and be it
13further
 
14    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall consist of the
15following members:
16    (1) the President of the Senate, or his designee;
17    (2) the Speaker of the House, or his designee;
18    (3) the Minority Leader of the Senate, or her designee;
19    (4) the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, or
20    his designee;
21    (5) a representative appointed by the Department of Public
22    Health;
23    (6) a representative appointed by the Department of
24    Agriculture;
25    (7) a representative appointed by the Department of Natural

 

 

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1    Resources;
2    (8) a representative appointed by the Illinois State
3    Veterinary Medical Association;
4    (9) a representative appointed by the Illinois
5    Environmental Council;
6    (10) a representative who is a county animal control
7    administrator from a county of over 4 million residents;
8    (11) a representative who is on the Board of the Alliance
9    for Contraception in Cats & Dogs (ACCD) appointed by the
10    University of Illinois School of Veterinary Medicine;
11    (12) a representative appointed by Best Friends Animal
12    Society;
13    (13) a representative appointed by the Illinois Farm
14    Bureau;
15    (14) a representative appointed by the Illinois Humane
16    Society;
17    (15) a representative appointed by the Illinois Chapter of
18    the Sierra Club;
19    (16) a representative appointed by the Illinois Audubon
20    Society;
21    (17) a representative appointed by the Illinois Wildlife
22    Society who is a certified wildlife biologist;
23    (18) a representative appointed by the County Animal
24    Controls of Illinois who is currently employed as an Animal
25    Control Administrator or an Animal Control Warden in a
26    county with a population of less than 2 million; and

 

 

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1    (19) a representative from the Tree House Humane Society;
2    and be it further
 
3    RESOLVED, That the Task Force members shall select a
4Chairperson from among themselves; and be it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That appointments to the Task Force must be made
6by December 31, 2016; and be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall hold at least two
8hearings, which shall be held in geographically separate
9regions of the State; and be it further
 
10    RESOLVED, That the Task Force members shall receive no
11compensation, and shall conclude all business by March 1, 2017;
12and be it further
 
13    RESOLVED, That the Department of Public Health shall
14provide administrative support to the Task Force; and be it
15further
 
16    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
17delivered to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the
18House, the Minority Leader of the Senate, and the Minority
19Leader of the House of Representatives.