Illinois 2025-2026 Regular Session

Illinois Senate Bill SB0128 Latest Draft

Bill / Engrossed Version Filed 04/09/2025

                            SB0128 EngrossedLRB104 07382 BDA 17422 b   SB0128 Engrossed  LRB104 07382 BDA 17422 b
  SB0128 Engrossed  LRB104 07382 BDA 17422 b
1  AN ACT concerning animals.
2  Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3  represented in the General Assembly:
4  Section 5. The Animal Control Act is amended by changing
5  Section 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
9  each dog inoculated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian.
10  Every dog shall have a second rabies vaccination within one
11  year of the first. Terms of subsequent vaccine administration
12  and duration of immunity must be in compliance with USDA
13  licenses of vaccines used.
14  (b) Every owner of a cat that is a companion animal and is
15  4 months or more of age shall have each cat inoculated against
16  rabies by a licensed veterinarian. Every cat that is a
17  companion animal shall have a second rabies vaccination within
18  one year of the first. Terms of subsequent vaccine
19  administration and duration of immunity must be in compliance
20  with USDA licenses of vaccines used. This subsection (b) does
21  not apply to feral cats; however, if a feral cat is presented
22  to a licensed veterinarian for sterilization, the feral cat
23  shall be inoculated against rabies, unless the person

 

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1  presenting the feral cat for care provides an inoculation
2  certificate showing that the feral cat has been inoculated
3  against rabies, and the cost of the inoculation shall be paid
4  by the person presenting the feral cat to a licensed
5  veterinarian for care.
6  (c) A veterinarian immunizing a dog, cat, or ferret
7  against rabies shall provide the Administrator of the county
8  in which the dog, cat, or ferret resides with a certificate of
9  immunization. Evidence of such rabies inoculation shall be
10  entered on a certificate the form of which shall be approved by
11  the Board and which shall contain the microchip number of the
12  dog, cat, or ferret if it has one and which shall be signed by
13  the licensed veterinarian administering the vaccine. Only one
14  dog, cat, or ferret shall be included on each certificate.
15  (d) Veterinarians who inoculate a dog shall procure from
16  the County Animal Control in the county where their office is
17  located serially numbered tags, one to be issued with each
18  inoculation certificate. The Board shall cause a rabies
19  inoculation tag to be issued, at a fee established by the Board
20  for each dog inoculated against rabies.
21  (e) A veterinarian who inoculates a cat that is a
22  companion animal shall issue an inoculation certificate to the
23  owner which shall comply with any registration requirements
24  adopted by the county under Section 3 of this Act. The owner
25  shall pay any fee imposed by the county under Section 3 of this
26  Act. A veterinarian who inoculates a feral cat shall issue an

 

 

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1  inoculation certificate to the person who presented the feral
2  cat for veterinary care. The registration requirements or any
3  fee imposed by the county under Section 3 of this Act shall not
4  apply to feral cats.
5  (f) Rabies vaccine for use on animals shall be sold or
6  distributed only to and used only by licensed veterinarians.
7  Such rabies vaccine shall be licensed by the United States
8  Department of Agriculture.
9  (g) If a licensed veterinarian determines in writing that
10  a rabies inoculation would compromise an animal's health, then
11  the animal shall be exempt from the rabies inoculation
12  requirement for the period described in this subsection; ,
13  however, the owner is still responsible for the tag fees. A
14  determination under this subsection is valid for one year but
15  may be annually renewed thereafter by a licensed veterinarian.
16  (h) If a bite occurs from an exempt animal, the exempt
17  animal shall be treated as an unvaccinated animal. If the
18  animal is exempt, the animal shall be re-examined by a
19  licensed veterinarian on no less than an annual basis and be
20  vaccinated against rabies as soon as the animal's health
21  permits.
22  (Source: P.A. 101-299, eff. 1-1-20.)

 

 

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