S.B. 115
FailedChild and Animal Abuse Cross-reporting Amendments
SB0115S01 (Substitute)
Child and Animal Abuse Cross-reporting Amendments
Introduction
Jan 20
Senate Rules
Mar 4
Senate Committee
Jan 21
Senate 2nd Reading
Feb 4
Senate 3rd Reading
Feb 4
House Rules
House Committee
House Floor Vote
Governor
What This Bill Does
This bill addresses cross-reporting between instances of child abuse and animal abuse.
Key Provisions
This bill:
- requires the courts to report information about certain animal abuse convictions to the Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS);
- requires an animal control officer to notify DCFS in certain circumstances;
- clarifies that a DCFS caseworker may report instances of potential animal abuse or neglect; and
- prohibits an employer preventing or retaliating against a veterinarian for reporting suspected animal cruelty.
Plain-Language Summary
AI-generated summary. We recommend consulting the bill text for important decisions.
Recognizing the well-documented link between animal abuse and child abuse, this bill creates a system of cross-reporting between child welfare and animal control authorities. Courts must report animal cruelty convictions to the Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) quarterly, and animal control officers must notify DCFS when they encounter a child in a home where they're investigating animal abuse or taking serious enforcement action. In turn, DCFS caseworkers investigating child abuse may report suspected animal abuse to animal control, and DCFS may notify animal control when it finds child abuse in a home where animals are present. The bill also prohibits employers from blocking or retaliating against veterinarians who report suspected animal cruelty.
S.B. 115
FailedChild and Animal Abuse Cross-reporting Amendments
Current version: SB0115S01 (Substitute)
Introduction
Jan 20
Senate Rules
Mar 4
Senate Committee
Jan 21
Senate 2nd Reading
Feb 4
Senate 3rd Reading
Feb 4
House Rules
House Committee
House Floor Vote
Governor
IntroductionJan 20
Senate RulesMar 4
Senate CommitteeJan 21
Senate 2nd ReadingFeb 4
Senate 3rd ReadingFeb 4
House Rules
House Committee
House Floor Vote
Governor
What This Bill Does
This bill addresses cross-reporting between instances of child abuse and animal abuse.
Key Provisions
This bill:
- requires the courts to report information about certain animal abuse convictions to the Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS);
- requires an animal control officer to notify DCFS in certain circumstances;
- clarifies that a DCFS caseworker may report instances of potential animal abuse or neglect; and
- prohibits an employer preventing or retaliating against a veterinarian for reporting suspected animal cruelty.
Plain-Language Summary
AI-generated summary. We recommend consulting the bill text for important decisions.
Recognizing the well-documented link between animal abuse and child abuse, this bill creates a system of cross-reporting between child welfare and animal control authorities. Courts must report animal cruelty convictions to the Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) quarterly, and animal control officers must notify DCFS when they encounter a child in a home where they're investigating animal abuse or taking serious enforcement action. In turn, DCFS caseworkers investigating child abuse may report suspected animal abuse to animal control, and DCFS may notify animal control when it finds child abuse in a home where animals are present. The bill also prohibits employers from blocking or retaliating against veterinarians who report suspected animal cruelty.
Votes
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Documents
Floor Debates
Committee Hearings
Other Versions
Subjects
Action History31
Senate/ filed
Senate file for bills not passed
Senate/ strike enacting clause
Senate Secretary
Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules
Senate Rules Committee
LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0115S02
Released
LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0115S02
Version Sponsor
Last updated Mar 26, 2026, 9:44 PM
