Bill Text: IL SB3262 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Creates the Mink Facility Disease Prevention Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2025, a person may not own or operate a mink enterprise in the State. Specifies that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor. Defines terms.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-04-09 - Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Adriane Johnson [SB3262 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SB3262-Introduced.html

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103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB3262 Introduced 2/6/2024, by Sen. Linda Holmes SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
New Act
Creates the Mink Facility Disease Prevention Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2025, a person may not own or operate a mink enterprise in the State. Specifies that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor. Defines terms.
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A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning health.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Mink
Facility Disease Prevention Act.
Section 5. Findings; purpose.
(a) The General Assembly finds that:
(1) Minks' upper respiratory tracts are
physiologically similar to humans, which means minks can
become infected by, and potentially transmit to humans,
respiratory viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2 and avian
influenza.
(2) Minks' susceptibility to acquiring and spreading
both human and animal respiratory viruses render them
potentially potent mixing vessels for generating novel
pandemic viruses.
(3) Tens of thousands of mink in the United States,
and millions worldwide, have been infected with
SARS-CoV-2, and there have been documented cases where
mink have transmitted the virus to humans.
(4) Animal management and slaughter practices on mink
farms have facilitated the spread of SARS-CoV-2 from
humans to mink. These farms confine large numbers of

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animals in close proximity to each other, which promotes
disease transmission. The mink also experience extreme
stress, which increases the potential to shed and transmit
viruses over extended periods. This risk is further
exacerbated by on-site slaughter practices that create
additional points of exposure.
(b) It is the purpose of this Act to protect public health
and human safety by prohibiting the farming of mink for their
fur in this State.
Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:
"Department" means the Department of Public Health.
"Mink" means American mink (Neovison vison), European mink
(Mustela lutreola), and any mink hybrid, whether alive or
dead, and any parts and products of mink or mink hybrids.
"Mink facility" means any operation in which mink, for the
value of their fur, are owned, controlled, raised, bred,
propagated, kept, slaughtered, skinned, or sold.
"Person" includes any individual, firm corporation, trust,
association, co-partnership, society, or other organization of
individuals and any other business unit, device, or
arrangement.
Section 15. Prohibition on mink farming. Beginning January
1, 2025, a person may not own or operate a mink enterprise in
the State.

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