New Illinois Laws 2016: AGRICULTURE, ANIMALS AND HUNTING

More than 200 new Illinois laws scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1. Here are the new laws governing Agriculture, Animals and Hunting:

• Animal Cruelty Fines (HB 3231/PA 99-0357): Provides that, in addition to any other penalty provided by law, a person who is convicted of a specified cruel treatment of animals violation upon a companion animal in the presence of a child shall be subject to a fine of $250 and ordered to perform community service for not less than 100 hours.
• Animal Welfare Owner ID (HB 4029/PA 99-0310): Requires animal control facilities to check for microchips and other ID means to determine owner. If an owner is identified, the facility must contact via mail at least seven business days before transfer, foster home, or euthanasia. Before transfer, foster home, or euthanasia the facility is required to check a second time for microchip and make sure original information obtained, if any, was correct.
• Bobcat Hunting (HB 352/PA 99-0033 – Sen. Sam McCann): Amends the Wildlife Code to allow bobcat hunting in Illinois from Nov. 1 to Feb. 15.
• DHS Gas Station Info (HB 4115 /PA 99-0044 – Sen. Neil Anderson): Provides the Department of Agriculture will maintain a list of addresses and phone numbers for gasoline and service stations on its website. The Department of Agriculture will provide the Department of Human Services with the link to this information, which DHS can then post on its own website.
• Humane Care for Animals (SB 125/PA 99-0311): States that, “No owner of a dog or cat may expose the dog or cat in a manner that places the dog or cat in a life-threatening situation for a prolonged period of time in extreme heat or cold conditions.”
• Youth Hunting License Age (HB 3234/PA 99-0307 – Sen. Chapin Rose): Raises age cap for youth hunting licenses from 16 to 18.

Check Out More New Illinois Laws in 2016

Review ALL 237 new laws that take effect on Jan. 1:

• AGRICULTURE, ANIMALS AND HUNTING

• BUSINESS, COMMERCE, LABOR AND REGULATION

• CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

• CONSUMERS

• CRIME, COURTS, CORRECTIONS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT

• SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION

• ENERGY, UTILITIES, ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION

• ETHICS, TRANSPARENCY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

• TRANSPORTATION AND VEHICLE REGULATION