Illinois Amends Humane Euthanasia Act

by ANC Staff and ASPCA

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has signed into law new legislation designed to address welfare concerns related to the euthanasia of animals in animal shelters.

HB 648, a new amendment to an earlier Humane Euthanasia Act, was strongly supported by the ASPCA and the Humane Society of Central Illinois.

In a press release, the ASPCA stated that the new legislation is necessary for the Department of Professional Regulations to implement the Humane Euthanasia in Animal Shelters Act (510 ILCS 72) which was signed into law over two years ago.

The original act required fingerprinting. The new amendment clarifies that process with the State Police and FBI, and mirrors the requirements found in other licensing acts.

The bill also clarifies the grand fathering provision of certified euthanasia technicians.

The euthanasia technician certificates issued by the American Humane Association, the National Animal Control Association, the Humane Society of the United States, and the Illinois Federation of Humane Societies do not have an expiration date, but the new legislation defines a current license as one that is issued within 3 years preceding the date of application.

Some small shelters are transporting animals across state lines for euthanasia, and the original Act failed to address this issue. The new legislation will allow animal shelters to continue this practice if the shelter the animals are being transported to has certified euthanasia technicians performing the euthanasia.

Currently, Missouri and Kentucky have much weaker laws regarding humane euthanasia than Illinois. In Kentucky, for instance, it is legal to use gunshot to kill dogs and cats in shelters.

Under the new legislation, they will be required to use the same methods for euthanasia as the shelters in Illinois are required to use: either lethal injection or inhalation of compressed carbon monoxide in a commercially manufactured gas chamber.

© 2004 Animal News Center, Inc.