86R13386 KLA-D
 
  By: Hall S.B. No. 1607
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a study on issues regarding service animals.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  (a) In this section:
               (1)  "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
  Commission.
               (2)  "Service animal" means an animal that is specially
  trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability or otherwise
  assist the person with the activities of daily living.
         (b)  The commission shall conduct a study on issues regarding
  service animals. In conducting the study, the commission may
  collaborate with and seek input from other appropriate state
  agencies, local governmental entities, and advocacy groups for
  persons with disabilities.
         (c)  The study must identify:
               (1)  the types of animals that can be trained as service
  animals and the types of animals that are defined as service animals
  under state and federal laws;
               (2)  the types of tasks a service animal can perform for
  and other assistance the animal can provide to a person with a
  disability, each categorized according to disability and type of
  animal;
               (3)  the unique types of tasks a service animal can
  perform for and other assistance the animal can provide to a
  veteran;
               (4)  existing state laws that address a person who
  falsely identifies an animal as a service animal and proposed state
  laws and policies designed to prevent that false identification;
               (5)  methods to prevent the fraudulent sale of an
  animal as a service animal or the sale of an animal as a service
  animal with a claimed level of or claimed specialized training that
  the animal does not have;
               (6)  methods to prevent other types of fraud concerning
  the provision of a service animal to a veteran;
               (7)  existing service animal training programs that
  certify an animal as a service animal;
               (8)  the best methods for licensing or certifying an
  animal as a service animal; and
               (9)  any other issues relating to the training,
  certification, identification, provision, or use of, or tasks
  performed or other assistance provided by, a service animal.
         (d)  Not later than November 1, 2020, the commission shall
  submit a written report on the findings of the study to the standing
  committees of the senate and house of representatives having
  jurisdiction over health and human services. The report must
  include recommendations for policy and statutory changes,
  including any proposed legislation, that are based on the results
  of the study.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.