2 Initiatives Introduced By DuPage County State's Attorney's Office Signed Into Law

DUPAGE COUNTY, IL — Two bills proposed by the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office have been signed into law. One helps protect animals in animal cruelty cases and the other helps protect seniors and disabled persons.

Public Act 104-0644 is an amendment to the Humane Care for Animals Act. It extends the period from 14 days to 30 days during which a state's attorney's office can call for permanent forfeiture of animals who have been the victims of cruelty or abuse.

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Public Act 104-0671 is an amendment that redefines caregivers for senior and disabled persons as "a person who would have reason to believe, as a result of the actions, statements, or behavior of the elderly person or person with a disability, that he or she is being relied upon for providing primary and substantial assistance for physical care."

It further defines a caregiver as "a person who has voluntarily assumed the responsibility for the care of an elderly person or person with a disability by knowingly providing ongoing primary and substantial assistance for the care of an elderly person or person with a disability if the person's conduct would lead a reasonable person to believe that failure to provide such care would adversely affect the physical health of the elderly person or person with a disability."

Per the amended statute, the definition of neglect or criminal abuse of a disabled or elderly person now includes when a caregiver performs an act or fails to perform an act with the knowledge that the act will likely endanger the person's life or health or cause their physical or mental conditions to deteriorate.

"These new laws send a crystal-clear message that protecting our most vulnerable is the responsibility of each and every one of us," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement.

He added, "Our seniors and persons with a disability have the right to live a dignified, secure life, free from the worry of abuse or exploitation just as our companion animals deserve protection from those who would do them harm. I am very pleased that with support from the General Assembly and Governor Pritzker's signature, we are now able to provide more support and protection to society's most vulnerable."