Illinois: HB 1080 would allow municipalities to pass BSL

Posted on February 6, 2011 by | 14 Comments

Edit 2/10/11: This bill has moved to the Agriculture & Conservation Committee. Please send correspondence in opposition to the following committee members.
Lisa M. Dugan, (217) 782-5981, FAX (217) 558-4553
Patrick J. Verschoore, (217) 782-5970, FAX (217) 558-1253
Jim Sacia, JimSacia@aeroinc.net
Kelly Burke, (217) 782-0515, FAX (217) 789-4899
Mary E. Flowers, flowersme@ilga.gov
Brandon W. Phelps, bphelps@yourclearwave.com
Dan Reitz, repreitz@egyptian.net

Illinois state law currently prohibits municipalities from passing breed-specific laws. HB 1080 would undo this prohibition and permit any municipality to declare dogs dangerous based on breed.

HB 1080 was referred to the House Rules Committee on February 3, 2011 and moved to the Agriculture & Conservation Committee on February 8, 2011.

Illinois residents, please contact the bill sponsor, each member of the House Rules  Agriculture and Conservation Committee, and your respective House Representative to OPPOSE this bill.

Find your Representative here (by address, district or zip code): http://www.elections.il.gov/districtlocator/DistrictOfficialSearchByZip.aspx

HB1080 Sponsor:
Representative John Bradley
Springfield Office: 269-S Stratton Office Building, Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-1051
(217) 782-0882 FAX
Email: repjohnbradley@mychoice.net

House Rules Committee
Chairperson : Barbara Flynn Currie
Timothy L. Schmitz, info@timschmitz.org
Lou Lang, langli@ilga.gov
David R. Leitch, davidleitch@ameritech.net
Frank J. Mautino, patti76th@ivnet.com

E-mail Quick List for House Rules Committee
info@timschmitz.org; langli@ilga.gov; davidleitch@ameritech.net; patti76th@ivnet.com
Please note that the Rules Committee Chair, Barbara Flynn Currie, does not make her e-mail address available. Her contact information is listed below.
Representative Barbara Flynn Currie
Springfield Office: 300 Capitol Building, Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-8121
(217) 524-1794 FAX 

 

The bill may be read and tracked here: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1080&GAID=11&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=56892&SessionID=84&GA=97

The relevant text of the bill is as follows:

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012 HB1080Introduced 2/3/2011, by Rep. John E. Bradley 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
510 ILCS 5/15 from Ch. 8, par. 365
510 ILCS 5/24 from Ch. 8, par. 374 

Amends the Animal Control Act. Removes the ban on classifying vicious dogs based on breed. Effective immediately.
* * *

(510 ILCS 5/15) (from Ch. 8, par. 365)

No dog shall be deemed “vicious” if it is a professionally trained dog for law enforcement or guard duties. Vicious dogs shall not be classified in a manner that is specific as to breed.

 (510 ILCS 5/24) (from Ch. 8, par. 374)

Sec. 24. Nothing in this Act shall be held to limit in any manner the power of any municipality or other political subdivision to prohibit animals from running at large, nor shall anything in this Act be construed to, in any manner, limit the power of any municipality or other political subdivision to further control and regulate dogs, cats or other animals in such municipality or other political subdivision provided that no regulation or ordinance is specific to breed. (Source: P.A. 93-548, eff. 8-19-03.)

Thanks to Jodi for the heads up!

This entry was posted in BSL Proposed, Illinois and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

14 responses to “Illinois: HB 1080 would allow municipalities to pass BSL”

  1. Candice Prior | February 6, 2011 at 10:09 pm |

    BSL has been proven ineffective in other city’s over and over again, besides how is this any different from judging a person based on the colour of their skin??

  2. Sherry | February 7, 2011 at 5:37 am |

    Please don’t pass any BSL law. I have the most kind and wonderful senior Pitbull and I would die if he were not part of my family because of any law. I work in a vet’s office and I see so many kind and gentle Pitbulls, and other breeds too, I can’t remember seeing a mean dog of any breed. If there were a BSL in effect it would rip families apart. Taking dogs away or not allowing dogs to be a family member due to this law is ridiculeous, to many of us it’s like taking away our children-this possible BSL law is cruel and unfair! Please consider passing a law that enforces proper dog/pet care/ownership. Let’s get to the root of the problem and enforce stricter punishment for the people that abuse and neglect any companion animal, that is where the problem is, not in the breed of the dog! I pray that this BSL law doesn’t pass! Thank you.

  3. Brittany | February 7, 2011 at 7:54 am |

    I am writing because this is a load of garbage. I have been a resident of Illinois my entire life and some cities have had breed specific laws for a long time. Waukegan, North Chicago, Zion and Gurnee. Waukegan has a law where if they see a pitbull they can shoot it. This is only for pitbulls. Pitbulls aren’t even allowed in the city of North Chicago and if you bring them you have to have a $100,000 to $1,000,000 policy on them or they can be destroyed as they say. I know this from experience. I have had negative experiences in each one of these locations.

    • stopbslcom | February 7, 2011 at 8:16 am |

      Brittany, good point. Although state law prohibits municipalities from passing BSL, some cities in Illinois already have BSL because they are “home rule” cities and they are therefore permitted to pass laws that conflict with state law. HB 1080 would allow ALL municipalities, including those that are not “home rule,” to pass BSL.

  4. Roland Lischalk | February 11, 2011 at 9:41 am |

    I absolutely oppose this bill. I have two pitbulls that I love and have brought so much light into my life. I adopted this breed specifically (and will continue to adopt this breed) because I know they can be intelligent, loving and caring. Both are wonderful around people, children and other dogs and do not oppose a danger to anyone. It’s sad and pathetic what the media has done to this breed. I would invite anyone to meet my pit bulls because I guarantee they would change the minds and hearts of many that are against them.

  5. Rick Chafton | February 11, 2011 at 10:15 am |

    This bill is absurd. Do we say all African- Americans are criminals, simply because they are black? NO! So, how can you allow a breed of dogs to be treated as such? The breed is not violent. The owner is responsible. If the dog is violent, charge the owner. I have adopted several pit bulls, and all are loving, kind, good-natured dogs. If you attempt to ban this breed, then you are the equivalent of Adolf Hitler.

  7. tim | February 20, 2011 at 7:20 pm |

    I have been bitten by a cute 35lb mutt, by my 2 girls learned to walk and crawl by my pit’s eyes and ears without ever the slightest concern for their safety. It’s the individual owners and dogs, not the breed. This bill is ridiculous.

  8. Leslie | February 21, 2011 at 11:46 pm |

    We need laws to stop all of the back yard breeding people are doing with Pit Bulls. That’s why there’s so many in shelters and so many living in yards with no socialization. Pit Bulls are wonderful dogs if they are treated properly.

  9. Christine Panos | February 23, 2011 at 1:38 pm |

    I’ve been checking the Illinois website to see what happened at the committee meeting yesterday. It looks like the hearing HAS BEEN CONTINUED TO MARCH 1, 2011. So we should keep contacting our reps and the committee reps to voice our opposition to lifting the breed ban.

  10. MPA | February 25, 2011 at 12:27 pm |

    Instead of passing this bill, how about passing a bill making OWNERS accountable. The problem lies with the owners not the dogs. I’d take a pit bull over a chihuahua ANY DAY!

  11. Amber | March 7, 2011 at 11:38 am |

    It’s not the breed of dog it’s the HUMANS! If you can’t handle an intelligent, strong breed of dog, then you are picking the wrong breed. I own the most wonderful German Shepard/Lab mix and will be absolutely devastated if I have to get rid of him. After having him (he’s only 4), I will always seek out German Shepard breeds. Most loyal, intelligent, sweet, loving dog I’ve ever owned. I rescued him from the pound and he in turn as rescued me, over and over again. Anyone wanting to own a “bully breed” should be required to take some sort of class/test and pass inspections of some sort. This is just absolutely ridiculous!

  12. Herb Whitlock | March 16, 2011 at 7:02 pm |

    Banning specific breds of dogs is irresponsible legislation which is unfounded,not intelligence based nor history based. Mostly notably this manner of law making is simply POLITICS OF FEAR IN MOTION.