Master FIR (1988)

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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR:	Rodriguez		DATE TYPED:	03/10/99		HB
SHORT TITLE:		Assistance Dog Interference				SB	498/aSJC
					ANALYST:		O'Connell

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY99	FY2000	FY99	FY2000	Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
				NFI	NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases

Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC files

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Senate Judiciary Committee Amendment

The Senate Judiciary Committee amendment clarifies the definitions of "injuring" and "interfering", exempts animals on private property not open to the public, strikes the provision for civil damages and inserts liability for restitution (including veterinary bills, replacement and training costs of the service animal). The amendment also defines "assistance animal" to include animals recognized as service animals pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 498 would make it unlawful for any person to injure or interfere with an assistance dog or for a dog owner to allow their animal to injure or interfere with an assistance dog. Persons who violate this provision for the first time will be guilty of a misdemeanor. Second and subsequent violations will be fourth degree felonies. Also, a person who injures or interferes or allows their dog to injure or interfere with an assistance dog shall be liable for civil damages if the assistance dog is unable to provide services to the owner.

BOC/njw