HB 4812 — ANIMALS--HORSE MEAT

*LRB09615726JDS30965b* HB4812 96THEngrossed GENERALLRB096 ASSEMBLY15726 StateJDS of30965 Illinoisb andAN 2010ACT HB4812concerning Introducedanimals. 1/12/2010, by Rep.

Jim Sacia SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

See Index Amends the Illinois Horse Meat Act.

Exempts certain types of horse meat from regulation under the Act.

Creates the Equine Rescue Assistance Fund.

Requires certain facilities to collect a $25 fee for each slaughtered horse and to remit those sums to the Department of Agriculture for deposit into the Equine Rescue Assistance Fund.

Requires the Department to create and administer an Equine Rescue Assistance Program to make grants to qualified equine rescue organizations for the expansion of equine rescue facilities and for the care and maintenance of rescued horses.

Repeals a provision that prohibits the slaughter of horses for human consumption.

Amends the Animals Intended for Food Act.

Expands the definition of "animal" to include "horses, mules, or other equidae".

Amends the Illinois Equine Infectious Anemia Control Act.

Allows equidae more than 12 months of age to enter the State for immediate slaughter without a certificate of veterinary inspection.

Requires equidae entering the State for immediate slaughter to be accompanied by a consignment direct to slaughter at an approved equine slaughtering establishment.

Amends the Humane Care for Animals Act.

Creates an exemption from the general prohibition against selling, offering to sell, leading, riding, transporting, or driving on any public way any equidae that, because of debility, disease, lameness, or any other cause could not be worked in this State.

Deletes a provision that prohibits injured equidae from being sent directly to a slaughter facility.

Amends the Humane Slaughter of Livestock Act.

Deletes a provision in the definition of the term "livestock" that excludes "horses, mules, or other equidae to be used in and for the preparation of meat or meat products for consumption by human beings".

Effective immediately.

LRB096 15726 JDS 30965 b FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY A BILL FOR HB4812 LRB096 15726 JDS 30965 b AN ACT concerning animals.

Section 5.

The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.755 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.755 new) Sec.

5.755.

The Equine Rescue Assistance Fund.

The Illinois Horse Meat Act is amended by adding SectionsSection 13.1 and 13.3 as follows:

(225 ILCS 635/13.3 new) Sec.

13.3.

Equine Rescue Assistance Fund and Program.

(a) The Equine Rescue Assistance Fund is created as a HB4812 - 2 - LRB096 15726 JDS 30965 b special fund in the State Treasury.

The Fund may accept fees, gifts, grants, donations, and federal or State appropriations for use by the Department in making grants to qualified equine rescue organizations through the Equine Rescue Assistance Program.

(b) Federally inspected facilities that produce horse meat that is exempt from this Act's requirements because of Section 13.1 shall collect a fee of $25 for every horse slaughtered.

These facilities shall remit these fees to the Department on a quarterly basis, and the Department shall deposit remitted fees into the Equine Rescue Assistance Fund.

(c) The Department shall create and administer an Equine Rescue Assistance Program.

Subject to appropriation from the Fund, the Department shall make grants to qualified equine rescue organizations for the expansion of equine rescue facilities and for the care and maintenance of rescued horses.

When in the interest of the general public and in HB4812 Engrossed - 32 - LRB096 15726 JDS 30965 b the opinion of the Department of Agriculture it is deemed advisable, the Department has authority to quarantine or restrict any and all animals intended for human consumption that contain poisonous or deleterious substances which may render meat or meat products or poultry or poultry products from such animals or poultry injurious to health;

HB4812 Engrossed - 43 - LRB096 15726 JDS 30965 b (Source:

No person shall sell, offer to sell, lead, ride, transport, or drive on any public way any equidae which, because of debility, disease, lameness or any other cause, could not be worked in this State without HB4812 Engrossed - 54 - LRB096 15726 JDS 30965 b violating this Act, unless the equidae are being sold, transported, or housed with the intent that it will be moved in an expeditious and humane manner to an approved slaughtering establishment.

HB4812 Engrossed - 65 - LRB096 15726 JDS 30965 b If an animal becomes downed in transit it shall be the responsibility of the carrier.

(4) "Livestock" means cattle, calves, sheep, swine, horses, mules, goats, and any other animal which can or may be used in and for the preparation of meat or meat products HB4812 Engrossed - 76 - LRB096 15726 JDS 30965 b for consumption by human beings or animals.