What's happening
Writing a plain-English summary… Track this bill to get it by email.
Why it matters
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 5
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Substituted by A5788
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.674
- Referred to investigations and government operations
- Committed to rules
- Restored to third reading
- Substitution reconsidered
- Substituted by A5788
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.315
Show 1 earlier action
- Referred to investigations and government operations
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Relates to service animals, guide dogs, hearing dogs and service dogs; repealer
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Michael Benedetto
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S4317
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, the civil rights law, the agriculture and markets law, the transportation law and the public housing law, in relation to service animals, guide dogs, hearing dogs or service dogs; and to repeal certain provisions of the executive law relating thereto
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to update and provide clarity to state laws regarding people with disabilities arid service animals.
Summary of provisions
This bill would amend the Human Rights Law to define the term "service animal" which would include, but would not be limited to, any guide, hearing, or service dog. Those term would have the same definition as they are defined in the Civil Rights Law.
The bill would also clarify that a person engaged in training a dog to aid a person with a disability has the same rights and privileges as outlined in the Civil Rights Law as possessed by a person with a disability.
Furthermore, the requirements that guide, hearing, or service, and therapy dogs be owned and/or trained by a qualified person or dog training center would be removed and the requirement that such dogs be "properly harnessed" would be amended so that they would only have to be "under the control of a person with a disability.
Finally, the requirement that a tenant who has a hearing dog must provide documentation of his or her impairment would be removed.
Justification
It is important to update and clarify New York State laws regarding service animals in order to reduce discrimination and allow those with disabilities to better function in a least restrictive environment. In addition, this bill brings New York State into compliance with federal laws on this topic.
Legislative history
2011-12: S.5495-B Rules/A.6816-B Passed Assembly
Fiscal implications
None noted.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.