The bill would require animal control centers to scan for implanted microchips twice and make other efforts to identify a lost animal's owner within 24 hours of the animal being impounded.

"We just want to make sure that animal shelters follow best practices and do all they can to ensure that there is over-the-top methods to make sure that pet owners are reunited with their pets," said the bill's sponsor, state Sen. Pam Althoff, R-McHenry.

Under the bill, animal shelters would have to use a universal scanner to attempt to find embedded microchips that identify pets and their owners; look for other forms of identification, such as collar tags; attempt to reach a secondary contact, such as the pet's veterinarian; and scan a second time, if the first is unsuccessful.

Implanting microchips in pets is a growing practice among breeders, veterinarians and larger pet stores, said Brittan Bolin, a lobbyist for the Illinois Federation of Dog Clubs and Owners.

The reason for the second scan is that the microchips, often implanted under the skin of the neck, can move to other parts of a pet's body over time, she said.

Bolin pointed to Sangamon County's Animal Control Center as a particularly effective operation.

"We do scan (for microchips) and will scan a second time if we're going to place an animal up for adoption or if it is up for euthanasia," director of operations Greg Largent said.

Sangamon County Public Health director Jim Stone, who oversees local animal control efforts, said the legislation would have no impact on his agency.