Bill Text: NY A02003 | 2013-2014 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Clarifies that guide dogs, hearing dogs, and service dogs are allowed in public places during their training and socialization process; provides that such dog must wear an identifying item stating that it is in training, and that the trainer must have paperwork available for inspection that such dog is being trained or socialized.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 8-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-08 - referred to governmental operations [A02003 Detail]
Download: New_York-2013-A02003-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 2003 2013-2014 Regular Sessions I N A S S E M B L Y (PREFILED) January 9, 2013 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. CROUCH, KOLB, McKEVITT, BARCLAY, DUPREY, HAWLEY, OAKS, RAIA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations AN ACT to amend the civil rights law, in relation to the training and socialization of guide dogs THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. Section 47-b of the civil rights law, as amended by chapter 2 404 of the laws of 1986, is amended to read as follows: 3 S 47-b. Miscellaneous provisions. 1. Persons with a disability accom- 4 panied by guide dogs, hearing dogs or service dogs shall be guaranteed 5 the right to have such dogs in their immediate custody while exercising 6 any of the rights and privileges set forth in this article. Blind 7 persons shall, further, have the right to carry a cane in their immedi- 8 ate custody while exercising any of the rights and privileges set forth 9 in this section. 10 2. No person or legal entity, public or private, shall attempt to 11 impose or maintain any direct or indirect additional charge for the 12 admittance of a guide dog, hearing dog or service dog accompanying a 13 person with a disability, nor shall any conditions or restrictions not 14 specifically set forth in this article be imposed on the person's rights 15 as set forth herein. 16 3. Persons qualified to train GUIDE DOGS, HEARING DOGS, OR SERVICE 17 dogs to aid and guide persons with a disability, [while engaged in such 18 training activities,] INCLUDING WALKING THE DOG WHEN IT IS STILL A 19 PUPPY, shall have the same rights and privileges AS set forth IN THIS 20 SECTION for persons with a disability [in this article], PROVIDED THAT 21 SUCH TRAINER IS ENGAGED IN TRAINING ACTIVITIES WITH THE DOG; AND 22 PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT THE DOG MUST BE HELD ON A LEASH, MUST BE IDENTI- 23 FIED BY WEARING A JACKET, VEST, COLLAR, OR OTHER ITEM WITH THE OFFICIAL EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD06364-01-3 A. 2003 2 1 LOGO OF THE SCHOOL OR FOUNDATION THAT IS TRAINING THE DOG, AND THE 2 PERSON ACCOMPANYING THE DOG MUST HAVE A CERTIFICATE FROM THE SCHOOL OR 3 FOUNDATION PROVING THAT SUCH DOG IS BEING TRAINED AS A GUIDE DOG, HEAR- 4 ING DOG, OR SERVICE DOG, IN ORDER FOR SUCH PERSON AND DOG TO BE ABLE TO 5 ENTER A PUBLIC FACILITY. 6 4. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM "TRAINING" SHALL INCLUDE 7 RAISING AND SOCIALIZING THE PROSPECTIVE GUIDE DOG, HEARING DOG, OR 8 SERVICE DOG, WHICH OCCURS PRIOR TO THE DOG'S FORMALIZED GUIDE DOG TRAIN- 9 ING OR WALKING THE DOG DURING ITS FIRST YEAR WHILE SUCH DOG IS A PUPPY. 10 5. The term "guide dog", "hearing dog" or "service dog" shall mean a 11 dog which is properly harnessed and has been or is being trained by a 12 qualified person, to aid and guide a person with a disability. 13 [5.] 6. For the purposes of this article the term "disability" shall 14 have the same meaning as provided for in subdivision twenty-one of 15 section two hundred ninety-two of the executive law. 16 [6.] 7. Any law, rule, or regulation conflicting with any provision of 17 this article is, to the extent of said conflict only, deemed to be 18 superseded by the provisions of this article. 19 S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.