Bill Text: IL HB1631 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that in a prosecution of a case involving the injury, health, or safety of a cat or dog, the court may, on its own motion or motion of any party, appoint a special advocate to assist the court, as deemed appropriate by the court, and represent the interests of justice regarding the health or safety of the cat or dog. Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois Department of Agriculture Law. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall compile a list comprised of pro bono attorneys and law students from each county who may serve as special advocates for these cases.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-29 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB1631 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-HB1631-Introduced.html

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101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2019 and 2020 HB1631 Introduced , by Rep. Allen Skillicorn SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
20 ILCS 205/205-203 new
725 ILCS 5/Art. 113A heading new
725 ILCS 5/113A-1 new
Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that in a prosecution of a case involving the injury, health, or safety of a cat or dog, the court may, on its own motion or motion of any party, appoint a special advocate to assist the court, as deemed appropriate by the court, and represent the interests of justice regarding the health or safety of the cat or dog. Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois Department of Agriculture Law. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall compile a list comprised of pro bono attorneys and law students from each county who may serve as special advocates for these cases.
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A BILL FOR
HB1631 LRB101 00356 SLF 45360 b
AN ACT concerning special advocates in animal cases.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Department of Agriculture Law of the Civil
Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section
205-203 as follows:
(20 ILCS 205/205-203 new)
Sec. 205-203. Compilation of special advocates for animal
cases. The Department of Agriculture shall compile a list of
pro bono attorneys and law students from each county who may
serve as special advocates in the prosecution of cases
involving the injury, health, or safety of a cat or dog as
provided in Section 113A-1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of
1963. In this Section, "law student" means a law student
licensed under Supreme Court Rule 711 or attached to a legal
aid bureau, legal assistance program, organization, or clinic
chartered by this State or approved by a law school approved by
the American Bar Association.
Section 10. The Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 is
amended by adding the heading of Article 113A and Section
113A-1 as follows:

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(725 ILCS 5/Art. 113A heading new)
ARTICLE 113A. SPECIAL ADVOCATES
(725 ILCS 5/113A-1 new)
Sec. 113A-1. Special advocates.
(a) In a prosecution of a case involving the injury,
health, or safety of a cat or dog, the court may, on its own
motion or motion of any party, appoint a special advocate to
assist the court, as deemed appropriate by the court, and
represent the interests of justice regarding the health or
safety of the cat or dog. If the court appoints a special
advocate in the case, the court may consult with a list of pro
bono attorneys and law students compiled by the Department of
Agriculture for that purpose.
(b) The advocate may:
(1) monitor the case;
(2) consult any person with information that could aid
the court and review records relating to the condition of
the cat or dog and the defendant's actions, including, but
not limited to, records from animal control officers,
veterinarians, and police officers;
(3) attend hearings; and
(4) present information or recommendations to the
court pertinent to determinations that relate to the
interests of justice, provided that information shall be
based solely on the duties undertaken under this subsection

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(b).