IL HB5940

Amends Illinois Criminal Code Section 48-10 to redefine "animal refuge" as a not-for-profit entity that provides lifetime care for abused or abandoned animals and prohibits commercial activity, breeding, entertainment use, and public contact with dangerous animals.

Removes exemptions from dangerous animal possession restrictions for federally licensed exhibits and circuses, replacing them with new exemptions for AZA-accredited zoological parks, municipally-operated zoos, and licensed motion picture/television production companies.

Establishes new restrictions on Class C exhibitor license holders after June 1, 2014, prohibiting them from breeding or acquiring most dangerous animals except ocelots, margay, lynx, bobcats, jaguarundi, hyenas, wolves, coyotes, and poisonous reptiles.

Maintains existing exemptions for persons who registered primates before January 1, 2011, and for severely mobility-impaired individuals possessing a single trained capuchin monkey as an assistance animal.

Preserves criminal penalties of Class C misdemeanor for violations, with confiscation of animals and owner responsibility for all seizure and care costs.