What's happening
This bill expands rights for guide dog trainers and puppy raisers, defining training to include socialization and early walking, and sets identification requirements for access to public facilities.
Why it matters
Broadens the legal recognition of guide dog training. to include early-stage activities like puppy socialization and initial walks, making it easier for trainers and volunteer puppy raisers to access public spaces critical for a dog's development.
Establishes clear identification requirements. for trainers and dogs (e.g., official jackets/vests and certification from approved schools or foundations), which may help reduce public confusion and prevent misuse of access rights.
Provides legal protections for both professional trainers and volunteer puppy raisers. , ensuring they can perform essential training and socialization in public, which is key to producing well-adapted guide and service dogs.
Clarifies and standardizes rights of access. , potentially reducing disputes or denials by businesses and public facilities, and supporting the consistent development of service animals to assist people with disabilities in the future.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Service Dogs Train Everywhere
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Held for consideration in governmental operations
- Referred to governmental operations
- Referred to governmental operations
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1972
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 17, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. CROUCH, BARCLAY, HAWLEY, KOLB, McKEVITT, OAKS, RAIA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the civil rights law, in relation to the training and socialization of guide dogs
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 47-b of the civil rights law, as amended by chapter 404 of the laws of 1986, subdivisions 1, 4 and 7 as amended by chapter 141 of the laws of 2015 and subdivision 3 as amended by chapter 536 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read as follows:
§ 47-b. Miscellaneous provisions. 1. Persons with a disability accompanied by guide dogs, hearing dogs or service dogs shall be guaranteed the right to have such dogs in their immediate custody while exercising any of the rights and privileges set forth in this article[, provided that in instances of employment pursuant to section forty-seven-a of this article, such dog has been trained by a qualified person]. Blind persons shall, further, have the right to carry a cane in their immediate custody while exercising any of the rights and privileges set forth in this section.
2. No person or legal entity, public or private, shall attempt to impose or maintain any direct or indirect additional charge for the admittance of a guide dog, hearing dog or service dog accompanying a person with a disability, nor shall any conditions or restrictions not specifically set forth in this article be imposed on the person's rights as set forth herein.
3. A person engaged in training a dog to guide or otherwise aid persons with a disability, [while engaged in such training activities] including walking the dog when it is still a puppy, and a person with a disability for whom the dog is being trained, shall have the same rights and privileges as set forth in this section for persons with a disabili-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04721-01-7
A. 1972 2
ty [in this article], provided that such trainer is engaged in training activities with the dog; and provided, further, that the dog must be held on a leash, must be identified by wearing a jacket, vest, collar, or other item with the official logo of the school or foundation that is training the dog, and the person accompanying the dog must have a certificate from the school or foundation proving that such dog is being trained as a guide dog, hearing dog, or service dog, in order for such person and dog to be able to enter a public facility.
4. For purposes of this section, the term "training" shall include raising and socializing the prospective guide dog, hearing dog, or service dog, which occurs prior to the dog's formalized guide dog training or walking the dog during its first year while such dog is a puppy.
5. The term "guide dog", or "hearing dog" shall mean a dog that is under the control[, consistent with federal regulations implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title III, at 28 CFR 36.302(c),] of the person using or training it and has been or is being trained to guide or otherwise to aid a person with a disability.
[5.] 6. For the purposes of this article the term "disability" shall have the same meaning as provided for in subdivision twenty-one of section two hundred ninety-two of the executive law.
[6.] 7. Any law, rule, or regulation conflicting with any provision of this article is, to the extent of said conflict only, deemed to be superseded by the provisions of this article.
[7.] 8. "Service dog" means any dog under the control[, consistent with federal regulations implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title III, at 28 CFR 36.302(c),] of the person using or training it, and that has been or is being individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
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