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HB 5411

RABIES VACCINES IN SHELTERS

104th Regular Session Introduced by Diane Blair-Sherlock and 5 co-sponsors

Requires a licensed veterinarian to be physically present or readily available for direct supervision and accountability when administering rabies vaccines at shelters.

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Bill Summary · HB 5411

Summary of HB 5411 (104th Illinois General Assembly)

Basic information

  • Title: Rabies Vaccines in Shelters
  • Sponsor: Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy
  • Co-sponsor: Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock
  • Status: Introduced and undergoing amendments in 2026; referred to Health Care Licenses Committee with subsequent floor amendments and movements.
  • Filed: March 19, 2026

Purpose and intent

HB 5411 is focused on the administration and supervision of rabies vaccines provided at facilities such as animal shelters. The amendment language indicates a shift toward clarifying professional responsibility for vaccines administered under a veterinarian’s direction. The bill appears to aim at ensuring proper credentialing, oversight, and accountability when rabies vaccines are delivered at shelters or similar facilities.

Key provisions and changes (as reflected in the amendment text)

  • Professional supervision and responsibility (primary change):
    The amendment replaces the term “indirect” with “direct” in the context of professional responsibility for rabies vaccine administration. It further specifies that:

    • A veterinarian (or individuals acting under the veterinarian’s direction) must have a veterinarian who is physically present at the facility.
    • The veterinarian must be readily available for consultation.
    • The veterinarian assumes professional responsibility for the rabies vaccine administered to the patient by personnel acting under the veterinarian’s direction.

  • Clarification of supervision model:
    The revised language emphasizes direct, on-site oversight by a licensed veterinarian, rather than an indirect supervisory model, for vaccines administered to animals at facilities.

  • Scope of authority:
    The amendment makes explicit that the veterinarian must be physically present and assume responsibility for vaccines administered by staff operating under the veterinarian’s direction. This suggests tighter regulatory control over who can administer vaccines and how supervision is provided.

  • Amendment framing:
    The bill includes multiple floor amendments (Amendment No. 2 and Amendment No. 3) to refine the language and ensure alignment with the intended supervision standard.

Who is affected

  • Veterinarians: Required to be physically present at shelters or facilities where vaccines are administered and to take professional responsibility for the vaccines delivered.
  • Shelters and animal care facilities: Must ensure on-site veterinarian presence and availability for consultation as part of vaccine administration.
  • Staff and volunteers who administer vaccines: Operate under the direction of a veterinarian and must work within the clarified supervision framework.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Committee path: Referred to Health Care Licenses Committee; amendments filed and considered (Amendment Nos. 1, 2, and 3) with a sequence of actions including adoption, “Do Pass” recommendations, and floor amendments.
  • Recent actions (as of amendment history):
    • March 25, 2026: House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted; Do Pass as Amended in Health Care Licenses Committee.
    • April 2026: Floor amendments filed and referred; amendments debated and recommended for adoption.
    • April 16, 2026: House Floor Amendment No. 3 recommended for adoption by the Health Care Licenses Committee.

Practical implications

  • If enacted, facilities that rely on shelter-based vaccination programs would need to ensure a licensed veterinarian is physically present during vaccine administration or immediately available for consultation, thereby increasing direct veterinary supervision.
  • This may affect staffing models, scheduling, and operational workflows at shelters, potentially increasing coordination costs but improving accountability and veterinary quality control.

If you’d like, I can provide a more detailed section-by-section breakdown once the final enacted language is available, or compare this bill to existing regulatory standards for shelter rabies vaccination in Illinois.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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