(510 ILCS 40/1) (from Ch. 8, par. 33.61) Sec. 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Illinois Brand Act". (Source: P.A. 79-880.)

(510 ILCS 40/2) (from Ch. 8, par. 33.62) Sec. 2. As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms specified in Section 2.01 through 2.05 have the meanings ascribed to them in those Sections. (Source: P.A. 79-880.)

(510 ILCS 40/2.01) (from Ch. 8, par. 33.62-01) Sec. 2.01. "Department" means the Department of Agriculture of the State of Illinois. (Source: P.A. 79-880.)

(510 ILCS 40/2.02) (from Ch. 8, par. 33.62-02) Sec. 2.02. "Director" means the Director of the Department of Agriculture, or his duly appointed representative. (Source: P.A. 79-880.)

(510 ILCS 40/2.03) (from Ch. 8, par. 33.62-03) Sec. 2.03. "Person" means any individual, firm, association, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity, any public or private institution, the State of Illinois, or any municipal corporation or political subdivision of the State. (Source: P.A. 79-880.)

(510 ILCS 40/2.04) (from Ch. 8, par. 33.62-04) Sec. 2.04. "Livestock" means bison, cattle, swine, sheep, goats, or equidae. (Source: P.A. 79-880.)

(510 ILCS 40/2.05) (from Ch. 8, par. 33.62-05) Sec. 2.05. "Brand" means an identification mark burned into the hide of a live animal by a hot iron or another method approved by the Department. Each character in a brand shall, at the time of application, be not less than 3 inches in diameter and each shall be a distinct character. Brands of lesser dimensions may be approved by the Department for goats, sheep, and swine. Arabic numerals alone are not acceptable characters for such ownership brands. Such brands shall be applied to the shoulder, ribs, or hip on either the right or left side as determined by standing behind the animal. No brand, except those for livestock disease control purposes, may be applied to the head or neck area. (Source: P.A. 79-880.)

(510 ILCS 40/3) (from Ch. 8, par. 33.63) Sec. 3. Any person having livestock in this State shall have the right to adopt a brand for his exclusive use in this State; provided, such brand is recorded as required under this Act. (Source: P.A. 79-880.)

(510 ILCS 40/4) (from Ch. 8, par. 33.64) Sec. 4. By November 1, 1975, each County Clerk shall forward to the Department legible copies of brands registered in his county under the provisions of "An Act in regard to marks and brands". Thereafter, the Department shall publish notice of the provisions of this Act and shall notify each person entered in these records as having a brand recorded that re-recording is required. Each such person shall forward to the Department a facsimile brand, a recording fee of $15, and completed application on forms prescribed by the Department. If 2 or more facsimile brands are submitted which so closely resemble each other that they cannot be readily distinguished, the one first recorded in one of the brand books furnished by County Clerks shall be accepted and all others shall be returned as provided in this Act. If such brands have not been previously recorded in a brand book, the Department shall accept the one bearing the earliest postmark. All other brands shall be returned to the applicants together with explanation. The date a brand is re-recorded with the Department shall be the official date utilized in determining renewal date of a brand as required in Section 7 of this Act. All brands which are not re-recorded with the Department by January 1, 1976, shall be cancelled immediately. (Source: P.A. 79-880.)

(510 ILCS 40/5) (from Ch. 8, par. 33.65) Sec. 5. Beginning January 1, 1976, any person desiring to adopt a brand shall forward to the Department a facsimile brand, a recording fee of $15, and completed application on forms prescribed by the Department. If the brand is accepted, the Department shall file the brand in its official brand book, shall furnish the applicant a brand certificate, and shall inform the applicant that he has exclusive right to the use of such brand in the State of Illinois from the date of filing by the Department. Additional brand certificates of a recorded brand may be obtained from the Department upon payment of a $15 fee for each certificate. If the Department determines that the submitted brand is already on record for another person or that it so closely resembles the brand of another person that they cannot be readily distinguished, the Department shall notify the applicant and shall return the facsimile brand and recording fee. (Source: P.A. 79-880.)

(510 ILCS 40/6) (from Ch. 8, par. 33.66) Sec. 6. Any recorded brand shall be considered the personal property of the person in whose name it is filed and shall be subject to sale, assignment, transfer, legacy, and descent as personal property. Instruments of writing evidencing the sale, assignment, or transfer of a brand shall be forwarded to the Department to be recorded in the official brand book. The fee for such transaction shall be $15. As soon as such transaction has been recorded, the Department shall furnish the new owner one certified copy of the sale, assignment, or transfer of the brand. Additional brand certificates denoting such transaction may be obtained from the Department upon payment of a $15 fee for each certificate. (Source: P.A. 83-388.)

(510 ILCS 40/7) (from Ch. 8, par. 33.67) Sec. 7. By January 1 of each fifth year following original recording with the Department, each owner of a brand of record shall submit to the Department a renewal fee of $15. For the purpose of determining renewal date, the period between the date a brand is recorded with the Department and January 1 of the next year shall constitute the first year of the 5-year period. If the owner of a brand of record fails, refuses, or neglects to pay such fee by June 30 of the year in which it is due, the brand shall be forfeited and no longer carried in the record. A forfeited brand shall not be issued to another person for a period of 5 years following the date of forfeiture. During this 5-year period, the owner of record may make application to the Department for restitution of a forfeited brand. Such application shall be accompanied by a facsimile brand and a reinstatement fee of $25. The renewal date for a reinstated brand shall remain the same and renewal fees on such brands shall be due on January 1 of each fifth year following original recording. (Source: P.A. 79-880.)

(510 ILCS 40/8) (from Ch. 8, par. 33.68) Sec. 8. Except as otherwise provided in this Act, it shall be unlawful to use any brand for identifying any livestock, unless such brand has been recorded as provided in this Act. When a recorded brand is applied to livestock which have been branded by a previous owner, such brand shall be applied so as not to overlap, disfigure, or mutilate the existing brand or brands. Brands consisting of letters only, arabic numerals only, or a combination of both, may be used for "in-herd" identification; provided, they are located at least 10 inches away from any recorded brand. Such "in-herd" brands are not to be recorded and shall not be considered evidence of ownership. (Source: P.A. 79-880.)

(510 ILCS 40/9) (from Ch. 8, par. 33.69) Sec. 9. In any civil or criminal proceedings in which the title to animals is an issue, the brand certificate as provided for in this Act shall be prima facie evidence of the ownership of the animal by the person in whose name the brand is recorded. When requested to do so, disputes in custody or ownership of branded animals shall be investigated by State or county law enforcement officials or representatives of the Department. This Section 9 shall take effect on January 1, 1985. (Source: P.A. 79-880.)

(510 ILCS 40/10) (from Ch. 8, par. 33.70) Sec. 10. Brand information. The Department shall make available in electronic format all recorded brands. This document shall contain an image of all brands recorded, the owner's name, and legal mailing address. (Source: P.A. 100-114, eff. 8-15-17.)

(510 ILCS 40/11) (from Ch. 8, par. 33.71) Sec. 11. The Department shall place all fees collected, under the provisions of this Act, in the General Revenue Fund. (Source: P.A. 79-880.)

(510 ILCS 40/12) Sec. 12. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 79-880. Repealed by P.A. 100-114, eff. 8-15-17.)

(510 ILCS 40/13) Sec. 13. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 79-880. Repealed by P.A. 100-114, eff. 8-15-17.)

(510 ILCS 40/14) (from Ch. 8, par. 33.74) Sec. 14. The Department shall enforce this Act and may make and adopt reasonable and necessary rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act. No rule or regulation made, adopted, or issued by the Department pursuant to the provisions of this Act shall be effective unless such rule or regulation has been submitted to and approved by the Advisory Board of Livestock Commissioners. (Source: P.A. 79-880.)

(510 ILCS 40/15) (from Ch. 8, par. 33.75) Sec. 15. Any authorized representative of the Department or any law enforcement officer may, for the purpose of enforcing this Act, enter during usual working hours any premise, building, or other place where livestock may be present; provided, sanitized footwear furnished by the responsible agency is used as well as any other reasonable disease prevention procedures or equipment as may be furnished by the owner or operator of the premise. These sanitation precautions apply only to an individual farm operation or management facility. (Source: P.A. 79-880.)

(510 ILCS 40/16) (from Ch. 8, par. 33.76) Sec. 16. Any person who, without permission of the rightful owner, willfully and knowingly brands or causes to be branded with his brand, or any brand not the recorded brand of the owner, any livestock being the property of another, or who shall willfully or knowingly efface, deface, or obliterate any brand upon any livestock, is guilty of a Class 3 felony. Any person knowingly or intentionally violating any other provision of this Act is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor. (Source: P.A. 79-880.)

(510 ILCS 40/17) (from Ch. 8, par. 33.77) Sec. 17. If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, or the applicability thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, by a court of competent jurisdiction, the constitutionality of the remainder of the Act and the applicability thereof to other persons and circumstances shall not be affected thereby. (Source: P.A. 79-880.)