Bill Text: NY A07083 | 2017-2018 | General Assembly | Amended

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Bill Title: Relates to therapy dogs for persons with a disability.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-06-18 - print number 7083b [A07083 Detail]

Download: New_York-2017-A07083-Amended.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                         7083--B
                               2017-2018 Regular Sessions
                   IN ASSEMBLY
                                      April 4, 2017
                                       ___________
        Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  DenDEKKER  --  read once and referred to the
          Committee on Governmental Operations  --  committee  discharged,  bill
          amended,  ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
          tee -- recommitted to the  Committee  on  Governmental  Operations  in
          accordance  with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill
          amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said  commit-
          tee
        AN  ACT  to amend the executive law and the agriculture and markets law,
          in relation to therapy dogs for persons with disabilities
          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
     1    Section  1.    Subdivision  14 of section 296 of the executive law, as
     2  amended by chapter 141 of the laws  of  2015,  is  amended  to  read  as
     3  follows:
     4    14. In addition to reasonable modifications in policies, practices, or
     5  procedures,  including  those  defined in subparagraph (iv) of paragraph
     6  (d) of subdivision two of this section or reasonable accommodations  for
     7  persons with disabilities as otherwise provided in this section, includ-
     8  ing  the  use of an animal as a reasonable accommodation, it shall be an
     9  unlawful discriminatory practice for any person engaged in any  activity
    10  covered  by  this  section  to  deny access or otherwise to discriminate
    11  against a blind person, a hearing  impaired  person  or  a  person  with
    12  another disability because he or she is accompanied by a therapy dog, as
    13  defined  in  subdivision  twenty-six of section one hundred eight of the
    14  agriculture and markets law, a dog that has  been  trained  to  work  or
    15  perform  specific tasks for the benefit of such person by a professional
    16  guide dog, hearing dog or service dog training  center  or  professional
    17  guide  dog,  hearing  dog  or  service  dog  trainer, or to discriminate
    18  against such therapy dog, professional guide dog, hearing dog or service
    19  dog trainer engaged in such training of a dog for use by a person with a
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD10456-05-8
        A. 7083--B                          2
     1  disability, whether or not accompanied by the person for whom the dog is
     2  being trained. This subdivision shall apply regardless of breed.
     3    § 2. Subdivision 26 of section 108 of the agriculture and markets law,
     4  as  amended  by  chapter  497 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as
     5  follows:
     6    26. "Therapy dog" means any dog that is trained to aid  the  emotional
     7  and  physical health of patients in hospitals, nursing homes, retirement
     8  homes, personal residences, and other settings and is actually used  for
     9  such  purpose, or any dog during the period such dog is being trained or
    10  bred for such purpose, and does not qualify under federal or  state  law
    11  or regulations as a service dog.
    12    §  3.  Subdivision 1 of section 356 of the executive law is amended to
    13  read as follows:
    14    1. A state veterans' service agency established by the division pursu-
    15  ant to this article shall have power and it shall be its duty to  inform
    16  military  and  naval authorities of the United States and assist members
    17  of the armed forces and veterans, who are residents of this  state,  and
    18  their  families,  in  relation  to (1) matters pertaining to educational
    19  training and retraining services and facilities, (2) health, medical and
    20  rehabilitation services and facilities, (3) provisions of federal, state
    21  and local laws and regulations affording special rights  and  privileges
    22  to  members of the armed forces and war veterans and their families, (4)
    23  employment  and  re-employment  services,  [and]  (5)  housing  services
    24  including  but not limited to instances of discrimination, and (6) other
    25  matters of similar, related or appropriate nature. The  state  veterans'
    26  service  agency  also shall perform such other duties as may be assigned
    27  by the state director.
    28    § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.