Rep. Patrick Windhorst | Facebook
Rep. Patrick Windhorst | Facebook
During a House Judiciary Criminal Committee session discussing the provisions of HB 168 about dog-fighting, Illinois State Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis) commended the bill amending the Humane Care for Animals Act.
He then sought a clarification similar to what Rep. David Friess (R-Red Bud) also commented upon.
"So, we have an individual who is convicted of two of the offenses listed, and their household members can or may be ordered not to possess any animals. Is that accurate?" Windhorst asked.
After State Rep. Daniel Didech (D-Buffalo Grove) confirmed the accuracy of Windhorst’s understanding and established that provision as the intention of the statute, Windhorst made an additional inquiry "If those household members move out or leave, does that bar still go with them or only when they are residing with the convicted person?"
Confirming the language of the statute only covers the persons dwelling in the same household, Didech said that "If they are no longer dwelling in the same household, then the intents of the bill will no longer apply to them"
The offenses listed on HB 168 that can merit an individual a conviction are as follows: violation of aggravated cruelty, violation of animals for entertainment, and violation of dogfighting.
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