House Republicans are frustrated over recent penalty enhancement bills as certain bills are being pushed through and others are being ignored.  The Illinois House on Tuesday voted to pass legislation to make it a Class B misdemeanor to pet a bear or non-human primate.  According to the legislation, it was drafted to “address the public safety and animal cruelty concerns associated with the public handling and show of these animals being used as props and business commodities.”

The vote was passed along party lines 73-35.  House Republicans refused to vote on the bill seeing it as a penalty enhancement bill.  Frustrations mounted over a similar bill that Republicans have tried to bring forward that House Democrats will not call because of penalty enhancements. 

This bill would offer DCFS Workers the same protections that police officers and firefighters would get.  House Republican Leader Tony McCombie has been trying to pass the bill since 2017 and asked what the difference was between the two bills.

 
The House will be in session until May 19th.