---
type: "Bill"
title: "CD CORR-HELPING PAWS-VETERANS"
description: "Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Helping Paws Service Dog Program shall include training service dogs for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression. Defines \"veteran\"."
jurisdiction: "us/states/il"
legislature: "Illinois General Assembly"
session: "100th"
identifier: "HB 2897"
citation: "Illinois HB 2897 (100th)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: []
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: []
version_count: 3
action_count: 43
vote_count: 2
first_action: "2017-02-09"
last_action: "2017-08-25"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/ad1d19a1-2b53-428e-baf9-1dcaa700145d"
source_url: "http://ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=2897&GAID=14&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=104386&SessionID=91&GA=100"
source_hash: "fc32ab24a038477d9eb3a07bf04e726290f2f0ea08f59b5a45cb40d60cc9aa4a"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-il"]
---

# Illinois HB 2897 (100th) — CD CORR-HELPING PAWS-VETERANS

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Helping Paws Service Dog Program shall include training service dogs for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression. Defines "veteran".

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **Introduced** (filed) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=10000HB2897&GA=100&SessionId=91&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=104386&DocNum=2897&GAID=14&Session=&print=true)
2. **Engrossed** (committee substitute) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=10000HB2897eng&GA=100&SessionId=91&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=104386&DocNum=2897&GAID=14&Session=&print=true)
3. **Enrolled** (enrolled) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=10000HB2897enr&GA=100&SessionId=91&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=104386&DocNum=2897&GAID=14&Session=&print=true)

## Votes

- Third Reading — **110–0** (pass) · lower
- Third Reading — **56–0** (pass) · upper

## Sponsors

- Dave Severin — primary (person)
- Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant — cosponsor (person)
- Michael E. Hastings — cosponsor (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2017-02-09** Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Dave Severin `filing`
- **2017-02-09** First Reading `reading-1`
- **2017-02-09** Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2017-02-10** Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Daniel Swanson
- **2017-02-22** Assigned to Judiciary - Criminal Committee `referral-committee`
- **2017-03-07** Do Pass / Short Debate Judiciary - Criminal Committee; 012-000-000 `committee-passage`
- **2017-03-08** Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
- **2017-03-08** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Terri Bryant
- **2017-03-08** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Brian W. Stewart
- **2017-03-08** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lindsay Parkhurst
- **2017-03-09** Second Reading - Short Debate `reading-2`
- **2017-03-09** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
- **2017-03-09** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. LaToya Greenwood
- **2017-03-09** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Katie Stuart
- **2017-03-09** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Justin Slaughter
- **2017-03-09** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jeanne M Ives
- **2017-03-14** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Elgie R. Sims, Jr.
- **2017-03-15** Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 110-000-000 `reading-3, passage`
- **2017-03-15** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Christine Winger
- **2017-03-15** Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Patricia R. Bellock
- **2017-03-16** Arrive in Senate `introduction`
- **2017-03-16** Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading `reading-1`
- **2017-03-16** Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Andy Manar
- **2017-03-16** First Reading `reading-1`
- **2017-03-16** Referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2017-04-25** Assigned to Veterans Affairs `referral-committee`
- **2017-05-01** Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Thomas Cullerton
- **2017-05-03** Do Pass Veterans Affairs; 005-000-000 `committee-passage`
- **2017-05-03** Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 4, 2017
- **2017-05-12** Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Cristina Castro
- **2017-05-19** Second Reading `reading-2`
- **2017-05-19** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 22, 2017
- **2017-05-26** Rule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 31, 2017 `reading-3`
- **2017-05-30** Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Julie A. Morrison
- **2017-05-30** Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant
- **2017-05-30** Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Jacqueline Y. Collins
- **2017-05-30** Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Michael E. Hastings
- **2017-05-30** Third Reading - Passed; 056-000-000 `reading-3, passage`
- **2017-05-30** Passed Both Houses
- **2017-06-28** Sent to the Governor `executive-receipt`
- **2017-08-25** Governor Approved `executive-signature`
- **2017-08-25** Effective Date January 1, 2018
- **2017-08-25** Public Act . . . . . . . . . 100-0384 `became-law`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/ad1d19a1-2b53-428e-baf9-1dcaa700145d`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Illinois legislature records).