Bill Text: MO HB203 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Adds professional therapy dogs to the definition of "service dog" as it relates to crimes against these animals or crimes of impersonating a disabled individual
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-04-27 - Public Hearing Completed (H) [HB203 Detail]
Download: Missouri-2011-HB203-Introduced.html
FIRST REGULAR SESSION
96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES HOSKINS (Sponsor), LARGENT, NANCE AND TORPEY (Co-sponsors).
0143L.01I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To repeal section 209.200, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to professional therapy dogs.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Section 209.200, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 209.200, to read as follows:
209.200. As used in sections 209.200 to 209.204, the following terms shall mean:
(1) "Disability", as defined in section 213.010, RSMo;
(2) "Service dog", a dog that is being or has been specially trained to do work or perform tasks which benefit a particular person with a disability. Service dog includes:
(a) "Guide dog", a dog that is being or has been specially trained to assist a particular blind or visually impaired person;
(b) "Hearing dog", a dog that is being or has been specially trained to assist a particular deaf or hearing-impaired person;
(c) "Medical alert or [respond] response dog", a dog that is being or has been trained to alert a person with a disability that a particular medical event is about to occur or to respond to a medical event that has occurred;
(d) "Mobility dog", a dog that is being or has been specially trained to assist a person with a disability caused by physical impairments;
(e) "Professional therapy dog", a dog which is selected, trained, and tested to provide specific physical therapeutic functions, under the direction and control of a qualified handler who works with the dog as a team as a part of the handler's occupation or profession. Such dogs, with their handlers, perform such functions in institutional settings, community-based group settings, or when providing services to specific persons who have disabilities. Professional therapy dogs do not include dogs, certified or not, which are used by volunteers in visitation therapy.
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