Bill Text: IL SB1883 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Enrolled

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Creates the Wild Animal Public Safety Act. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, it is unlawful for any person to allow any member of the public to come into direct contact with a bear or nonhuman primate. Defines "direct contact" as the physical contact or proximity where physical contact is possible, including, but not limited to, any proximity without a permanent physical barrier or sufficient vertical height designed to prevent physical contact between the public and the bear or nonhuman primate. Provides that a violation is a Class B misdemeanor. Provides exceptions. Provides that any law enforcement officer or peace officer employed by the State or by any county or municipality within the State may enforce the provisions of this Act. Provides that the Attorney General, or a State's Attorney of the county in which a violation of the Act occurred, may bring an action in the name of the People of the State of Illinois to enforce the provisions of the Act, and may bring an action for an injunction to restrain any actual or threatened violation. Contains a severability provision.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-06-30 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 103-0239 [SB1883 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SB1883-Enrolled.html

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AN ACT concerning criminal law.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Wild
Animal Public Safety Act.
Section 5. Definitions. In this Act:
"Covered animal" means any live member of the following,
or any hybrid of the following:
(1) Bear.
(2) Nonhuman primate.
"Direct contact" means physical contact or proximity where
physical contact is possible, including, but not limited to,
any proximity without a permanent physical barrier or
sufficient vertical height designed to prevent physical
contact between the public and a covered animal.
"Professional production crew" means a cast or crew member
of a television or motion picture production team that has
obtained permits as required by law, and includes a
professional photographer, videographer, or cinematographer.
Section 10. Prohibition. Notwithstanding any other
provision of law to the contrary, it is unlawful for any person
to allow any member of the public to come into direct contact

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with a covered animal.
Section 15. Nonapplication of Act. This Act does not
apply to direct contact between a covered animal and any of the
following:
(1) The owner of the covered animal.
(2) The owner of the facility in which the specified
animal is kept.
(3) A trained professional employee or contractor of
the owner of the covered animal or facility (or an
accompanying employee receiving professional training),
while acting in the course and scope of official duty.
(4) A licensed veterinarian, a veterinary student
accompanying such a veterinarian, or a registered
veterinary technician under the direct or indirect
supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
(5) A law enforcement officer or animal control
authority acting in the course and scope of official duty.
(6) An employee of a federal, State, or local agency,
while acting in the course and scope of the person's
official duty.
(7) A board member of the facility where the animal is
kept, a trainee, service provider, or professional
production crew which:
(A) is accompanied by the facility's owner or
trained employee;

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(B) is performing work with the specified animal
away from public view; and
(C) is under a contract or other engagement with
the facility's owner.
Section 20. Penalty. Any person who violates the
provisions of this Act is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
Section 25. Enforcement. Any law enforcement officer or
peace officer employed by this State or by any county or
municipality within this State may enforce the provisions of
this Act. The Attorney General, or a State's Attorney of the
county in which a violation of this Act occurred, may bring an
action in the name of the People of the State of Illinois to
enforce the provisions of this Act, and may bring an action for
an injunction to restrain any actual or threatened violation.