Connecticut 2021 2021 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB06318 Introduced / Bill

Filed 01/28/2021

                        
 
 
LCO No. 2592  	1 of 14 
 
General Assembly  Raised Bill No. 6318  
January Session, 2021 
LCO No. 2592 
 
 
Referred to Committee on HUMAN SERVICES  
 
 
Introduced by:  
(HS)  
 
 
 
 
AN ACT CONCERNING SE RVICE ANIMALS. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General 
Assembly convened: 
 
Section 1. Section 5-247b of the general statutes is repealed and the 1 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 2 
For purposes of this section, (1) "disability" has the same meaning as 3 
provided in 28 CFR 35.108, as amended from time to time, and (2) 4 
"service animal" has the same meaning as provided in 28 CFR 35.104, as 5 
amended from time to time, and includes a service animal in training. 6 
Each appointing authority shall grant to each full-time employee in a 7 
permanent position in the state [service or full-time employee of a] or 8 
quasi-public agency who [(1) is blind or physically disabled, and (2)] (A) 9 
has a disability, and (B) has been employed for at least twelve 10 
consecutive months, the use of accumulated paid sick leave, not to 11 
exceed [fifteen] twenty days, to participate in training conducted by [a 12 
guide dog organization or assistance dog organization] an organization 13 
that trains service animals, provided such organization is a member of 14 
a professional association of [guide dog or assistance dog] service 15 
animal schools, to prepare the employee to handle a [guide dog or 16  Raised Bill No.  6318 
 
 
 
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assistance dog] service animal for the employee's own use. The 17 
appointing authority may require up to seven days' advance notice of 18 
an employee's intention to use such leave and may require the employee 19 
to provide reasonable documentation that such leave is being taken for 20 
the purpose permitted under this section.  21 
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021) For purposes of this section, (1) 22 
"disability" has the same meaning as provided in 28 CFR 35.108, as 23 
amended from time to time, and (2) "service animal" has the same 24 
meaning as provided in 28 CFR 35.104, as amended from time to time, 25 
and includes a service animal in training. Each chief elected official or 26 
chief executive officer of a municipality shall grant to each full-time 27 
employee in a permanent position who (A) has a disability, and (B) has 28 
been employed for at least twelve consecutive months, the use of 29 
accumulated paid sick leave, not to exceed twenty days, to participate 30 
in training conducted by an organization that trains service animals, 31 
provided such organization is a member of a professional association of 32 
service animal schools, to prepare the employee to handle a service 33 
animal for the employee's own use. The chief elected official or chief 34 
executive officer may require up to seven days' advance notice of an 35 
employee's intention to use such leave and may require the employee to 36 
provide reasonable documentation that such leave is being taken for the 37 
purpose permitted under this section. 38 
Sec. 3. Subsection (f) of section 13b-119 of the general statutes is 39 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 40 
2021): 41 
(f) A transportation network company driver shall: (1) Comply with 42 
all applicable laws regarding nondiscrimination against transportation 43 
network company riders or potential transportation network company 44 
riders on the basis of age, color, creed, destination, intellectual or 45 
physical disability, national origin, race, sex, sexual orientation or 46 
gender identity; (2) comply with all applicable laws relating to the 47 
accommodation of service animals and accommodate service animals 48 
without imposing additional charges for such accommodation; (3) 49  Raised Bill No.  6318 
 
 
 
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comply with the policies adopted by the transportation network 50 
company pursuant to subsection (c) of section 13b-118 and subsections 51 
(d) and (e) of this section; (4) not impose additional charges for 52 
providing prearranged rides to persons with physical disabilities 53 
because of such disabilities; and (5) not solicit or accept a request for 54 
transportation unless the request is accepted through the transportation 55 
network company's digital network. For purposes of this subsection, 56 
"service animal" has the same meaning as provided in 28 CFR 35.104, as 57 
amended from time to time, and includes a service animal in training. 58 
Sec. 4. Section 14-300 of the general statutes is repealed and the 59 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 60 
(a) For purposes of this section and section 14-300i, "service animal" 61 
has the same meaning as provided in 28 CFR 35.104, as amended from 62 
time to time, and includes a service animal in training. The traffic 63 
authority shall have power to designate, by appropriate official traffic 64 
control devices, as defined in section 14-297, or markers, or by lines 65 
upon the surface of the highway, such crosswalks and intersections as, 66 
in its opinion, constitute a danger to pedestrians crossing the highway 67 
including, but not limited to, specially marked crosswalks in the vicinity 68 
of schools, which crosswalks shall have distinctive markings, in 69 
accordance with the regulations of the Office of the State Traffic 70 
Administration, to denote use of such crosswalks by school children; 71 
and may maintain suitable signs located at intervals along highways, 72 
particularly where there are no sidewalks, directing pedestrians to walk 73 
facing vehicular traffic. 74 
(b) At any intersection where special pedestrian-control signals 75 
bearing the words "Walk" or "Don't Walk" are placed, pedestrians may 76 
cross the highway only as indicated by the signal. At any intersection 77 
where traffic is controlled by other traffic control signals or by police 78 
officers, pedestrians shall not cross the highway against a red or "Stop" 79 
signal and shall not cross at any place not a marked or unmarked 80 
crosswalk. A pedestrian started or starting across the highway on a 81 
"Walk" signal or on any such crosswalk on a green or "Go" signal shall 82  Raised Bill No.  6318 
 
 
 
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have the right-of-way over all vehicles, including those making turns, 83 
until such pedestrian has reached the opposite curb or safety zone. 84 
(c) Except as provided in subsection (c) of section 14-300c, at any 85 
crosswalk marked as provided in subsection (a) of this section or any 86 
unmarked crosswalk, provided such crosswalks are not controlled by 87 
police officers or traffic control signals, each operator of a vehicle shall 88 
grant the right-of-way, and slow or stop such vehicle if necessary to so 89 
grant the right-of-way, to any pedestrian crossing the roadway within 90 
such crosswalk, provided such pedestrian steps off the curb or into the 91 
crosswalk at the entrance to a crosswalk or is within that half of the 92 
roadway upon which such operator of a vehicle is traveling, or such 93 
pedestrian steps off the curb or into the crosswalk at the entrance to a 94 
crosswalk or is crossing the roadway within such crosswalk from that 95 
half of the roadway upon which such operator is not traveling. No 96 
operator of a vehicle approaching from the rear shall overtake and pass 97 
any vehicle, the operator of which has stopped at any crosswalk marked 98 
as provided in subsection (a) of this section or any unmarked crosswalk 99 
to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway. The operator of any vehicle 100 
crossing a sidewalk shall yield the right-of-way to each pedestrian and 101 
all other traffic upon such sidewalk.  102 
(d) The operator of a motor vehicle who approaches or comes into the 103 
immediate vicinity of a pedestrian who is blind, as defined in subsection 104 
(a) of section 1-1f, carrying a white cane or a white cane tipped with red, 105 
or a pedestrian being guided by a [guide dog] service animal, shall 106 
reduce speed or stop, if necessary, to yield the right-of-way to such 107 
pedestrian. No person, except one who is blind, shall carry or use on any 108 
street or highway, or in any other public place, a cane or walking stick 109 
which is white in color or white, tipped with red. 110 
(e) Any crosswalk designated by a traffic authority on or after 111 
October 1, 2010, pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be 112 
required by such authority to have markings, signage, or any control 113 
signals deemed necessary by such authority to provide sufficient time 114 
for the safe crossing of pedestrians.  115  Raised Bill No.  6318 
 
 
 
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(f) The operator of any motor vehicle who violates this section shall 116 
be fined not more than five hundred dollars. 117 
(g) In any civil action arising under subsection (c) or (d) of this section 118 
or sections 14-300b to 14-300d, inclusive, the doctrine of negligence per 119 
se shall not apply.  120 
Sec. 5. Section 22-345 of the general statutes is repealed and the 121 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 122 
For purposes of this section and sections 22-357, 22-358 and 22-364b, 123 
as amended by this act, (1) "disability" has the same meaning as 124 
provided in 28 CFR 35.108, as amended from time to time, and (2) 125 
"service animal" has the same meaning as provided in 28 CFR 35.104, as 126 
amended from time to time, and includes a service animal in training. 127 
Any [blind, deaf or mobility impaired] person with a disability who is 128 
the owner or keeper of a dog [which has been trained and educated to 129 
guide and assist such person in traveling upon the public streets or 130 
highways or otherwise] that has been trained as a service animal shall 131 
receive a license and tag for such dog from the town clerk of the town 132 
where such dog is owned or kept. Such license and tag shall be issued 133 
in accordance with the provisions of section 22-340, and no fee shall be 134 
required of the owner or keeper of any such dog. When any such dog 135 
has not been previously licensed by the town clerk to whom application 136 
is being made, and it is not obvious that the dog is a service animal, such 137 
town clerk [shall not license such dog or issue to the owner a license and 138 
tag unless written evidence is exhibited to such clerk that the dog is 139 
trained and educated and intended in fact to perform such guide service 140 
for such applicant] may inquire, in accordance with the Americans With 141 
Disabilities Act, as amended from time to time, of such owner or keeper 142 
whether the dog is a service animal required because of a disability and 143 
what work or task the dog has been trained to perform. Any person who 144 
has a dog placed with such person temporarily, including for breeding 145 
purposes, by a nonprofit organization established for the purpose of 146 
training or educating [guide dogs to so assist blind, deaf or mobility 147 
impaired persons] the dog as a service animal shall receive a license and 148  Raised Bill No.  6318 
 
 
 
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tag for such dog from the town clerk of the town where such dog is kept. 149 
Such license and tag shall be issued in accordance with the provisions 150 
of section 22-340, and no fee shall be required for such license and tag, 151 
provided such person presents written evidence that such dog was 152 
placed with such person by such organization. [As used in this section 153 
and section 46a-44, "deaf person" means a person who cannot readily 154 
understand spoken language through hearing alone and who may also 155 
have a speech defect which renders such person's speech unintelligible 156 
to most people with normal hearing.]  157 
Sec. 6. Subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 22-357 of the general 158 
statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 159 
(Effective July 1, 2021): 160 
(3) "The amount of such damage", with respect to a companion 161 
animal, includes expenses of veterinary care, the fair monetary value of 162 
the companion animal, including all training expenses for a [guide dog] 163 
service animal owned by a [blind person or an assistance dog owned by 164 
a deaf or mobility impaired person] person with a disability and burial 165 
expenses for the companion animal. 166 
Sec. 7. Subsection (c) of section 22-358 of the general statutes is 167 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 168 
2021): 169 
(c) The commissioner, the Chief Animal Control Officer, any animal 170 
control officer, any municipal animal control officer or any regional 171 
animal control officer may make any order concerning the restraint or 172 
disposal of any biting dog, cat or other animal as the commissioner or 173 
such officer deems necessary. Notice of any such order shall be given to 174 
the person bitten by such dog, cat or other animal within twenty-four 175 
hours. The owner of such animal shall pay all fees as set forth in section 176 
22-333. Any owner or keeper of such dog, cat or other animal who fails 177 
to comply with such order shall be guilty of a class D misdemeanor. If 178 
an owner or keeper fails to comply with a restraining order made 179 
pursuant to this subsection, the Chief Animal Control Officer, any 180  Raised Bill No.  6318 
 
 
 
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animal control officer, any municipal animal control officer or any 181 
regional animal control officer may seize the dog, cat or other animal to 182 
ensure such compliance and the owner or keeper shall be responsible 183 
for any expenses resulting from such seizure. Any person aggrieved by 184 
an order of any municipal animal control officer, the Chief Animal 185 
Control Officer, any animal control officer or any regional animal 186 
control officer may request a hearing before the commissioner within 187 
fourteen days of the issuance of such order. Any order issued pursuant 188 
to this section that requires the restraint of an animal shall be effective 189 
upon its issuance and shall remain in effect during any appeal of such 190 
order to the commissioner. After such hearing, the commissioner may 191 
affirm, modify or revoke such order as the commissioner deems proper. 192 
Any dog owned by a police agency of the state or any of its political 193 
subdivisions is exempt from the provisions of this subsection when such 194 
dog is under the direct supervision, care and control of an assigned 195 
police officer, is currently vaccinated and is subject to routine veterinary 196 
care. Any [guide dog] service animal owned or in the custody and 197 
control of a [blind person or a person with a mobility impairment] 198 
person with a disability is exempt from the provisions of this subsection 199 
when such [guide dog] service animal is under the direct supervision, 200 
care and control of such person, is currently vaccinated and is subject to 201 
routine veterinary care. 202 
Sec. 8. Section 22-364b of the general statutes is repealed and the 203 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 204 
The owner or keeper of a dog shall restrain and control such dog on 205 
a leash when such dog is not on the property of its owner or keeper and 206 
is in proximity to a [blind, deaf or mobility impaired] person with a 207 
disability accompanied by his [guide dog] or her service animal, 208 
provided the [guide dog] service animal is in the direct custody of such 209 
[blind, deaf or mobility impaired person, is wearing a harness or an 210 
orange-colored leash and collar which makes it readily-identifiable as a 211 
guide dog] person, is wearing a harness or a vest readily identifying the 212 
animal as a service animal and is licensed in accordance with section 22-213 
345, as amended by this act. Any person who violates the provisions of 214  Raised Bill No.  6318 
 
 
 
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this section shall have committed an infraction. If an owner or keeper of 215 
a dog violates the provisions of this section and, as a result of such 216 
violation, such dog attacks and injures the [guide dog] service animal, 217 
such owner or keeper shall be liable, as provided in section 22-357, as 218 
amended by this act, for any damage done to such [guide dog] service 219 
animal, and such liability shall include liability for any costs incurred by 220 
such [blind, deaf or mobility-impaired] person with a disability for the 221 
veterinary care, rehabilitation or replacement of the injured [guide dog] 222 
service animal and for reasonable attorney's fees.  223 
Sec. 9. Section 46a-44 of the general statutes is repealed and the 224 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 225 
(a) For purposes of this section and section 46a-64, as amended by 226 
this act, (1) "disability" has the same meaning as provided in 28 CFR 227 
35.108, as amended from time to time, (2) "service animal" has the same 228 
meaning as provided in 28 CFR 35.104, as amended from time to time, 229 
and includes a service animal in training, and (3) "person training an 230 
animal as a service animal" means a person who (A) (i) is employed by 231 
an organization that trains service animals and complies with the 232 
criteria for membership in a professional association of schools that train 233 
service animals, (ii) is authorized to engage in designated training 234 
activities, and (iii) carries photographic identification indicating such 235 
employment and authorization, or (B) volunteers for an organization 236 
that (i) trains service animals, and (ii) authorizes volunteers to raise 237 
animals to become service animals. 238 
 [(a)] (b) Any [blind, deaf or mobility impaired] person with a 239 
disability or any person training [a dog as a guide dog for a blind person 240 
or an assistance dog to assist a deaf or mobility impaired person] an 241 
animal as a service animal to assist a person with a disability may travel 242 
on a train or on any other mode of public transportation, and may enter 243 
any other place of public accommodation which caters or offers its 244 
services or facilities or goods to the general public, including but not 245 
limited to, any public building, inn, restaurant, hotel, motel, tourist 246 
cabin, place of amusement, resort or any facility of any such public 247  Raised Bill No.  6318 
 
 
 
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accommodation, accompanied by such person's [guide dog or assistance 248 
dog] service animal, and such person may keep such [dog] service 249 
animal with him or her at all times in any such public accommodation 250 
or facility thereof at no extra charge, provided such [dog] service animal 251 
shall be in the direct custody and control of such person. [and shall be 252 
wearing a harness or an orange-colored leash and collar.] 253 
[(b)] (c) Any [blind, deaf or mobility impaired] person with a 254 
disability or any person training [a dog as a guide dog for a blind person 255 
or an assistance dog to assist a deaf or mobility impaired person] an 256 
animal as a service animal for a person with a disability shall be entitled 257 
to visit any place of public accommodation, resort or amusement or a 258 
dwelling as a guest of a lawful occupant thereof, accompanied by such 259 
person's [guide dog or assistance dog] service animal, and such person 260 
may keep such [dog] service animal with him or her at all times in such 261 
public accommodation, resort, amusement or dwelling at no extra 262 
charge, provided such [dog] service animal shall be in the direct custody 263 
and control of such person. [and shall be wearing a harness or an 264 
orange-colored leash and collar.] No such [blind, deaf or mobility 265 
impaired] person with a disability or person training [a dog as a guide 266 
dog or an assistance dog] an animal as a service animal shall be charged 267 
any fee not applicable alike to all guests, provided the owner of such 268 
[dog] service animal shall be liable for any damage done to the premises 269 
or facilities by such [dog] service animal. For the purposes of this 270 
subsection, (1) a "place of public accommodation, resort or amusement" 271 
means any establishment which caters or offers its services or facilities 272 
or goods to the general public, including, but not limited to, any 273 
commercial building lot, on which it is intended that a commercial 274 
property or building will be constructed or offered for sale or rent, and 275 
(2) "dwelling" means any building, structure, mobile manufactured 276 
home park or portion thereof which is occupied as, or designed or 277 
intended for occupancy as, a residence by one or more families, and any 278 
vacant land which is offered for sale or lease for the construction or 279 
location thereon of any such building, structure, mobile manufactured 280 
home park or portion thereof, provided the provisions of this subsection 281  Raised Bill No.  6318 
 
 
 
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shall not apply to (A) the rental of a room or rooms in a single-family 282 
dwelling unit, if the owner actually maintains and occupies part of such 283 
living quarters as the owner's residence or (B) a unit in a dwelling 284 
containing living quarters occupied or intended to be occupied by no 285 
more than two families living independently of each other, if the owner 286 
actually maintains and occupies the other such living quarters as the 287 
owner's residence. 288 
[(c)] (d) Any person who intentionally interferes with [a blind, deaf 289 
or mobility impaired person's use of a guide dog or an assistance dog] 290 
the use of a service animal by a person with a disability, including, but 291 
not limited to, any action intended to harass or annoy the [blind, deaf or 292 
mobility impaired] person, the person training [a dog as a guide dog or 293 
assistance dog or the guide dog or assistance dog] an animal as a service 294 
animal, or who denies the rights afforded to a [blind, deaf or mobility 295 
impaired] person with a disability or person training [a dog as a guide 296 
dog or an assistance dog] an animal as a service animal under subsection 297 
[(a)] (b) or [(b)] (c) of this section shall be guilty of a class C 298 
misdemeanor, provided such [blind, deaf or mobility impaired] person 299 
with a disability or person training [a dog as a guide dog or an assistance 300 
dog] an animal as a service animal complies with the applicable 301 
provisions of subsection [(a)] (b) or [(b)] (c) of this section. 302 
[(d) For the purposes of this section, "guide dog" or "assistance dog" 303 
includes a dog being trained as a guide dog or assistance dog and 304 
"person training a dog as a guide dog for a blind person or an assistance 305 
dog to assist a deaf or mobility impaired person" means a person who 306 
is employed by and authorized to engage in designated training 307 
activities by a guide dog organization or assistance dog organization 308 
that complies with the criteria for membership in a professional 309 
association of guide dog or assistance dog schools and who carries 310 
photographic identification indicating such employment and 311 
authorization, or a person who volunteers for a guide dog organization 312 
or assistance dog organization that authorizes such volunteers to raise 313 
dogs to become guide dogs or assistance dogs and causes the 314 
identification of such dog with (1) identification tags, (2) ear tattoos, (3) 315  Raised Bill No.  6318 
 
 
 
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identifying bandanas on puppies, (4) identifying coats on adult dogs, or 316 
(5) leashes and collars.]  317 
Sec. 10. Subsection (a) of section 46a-64 of the general statutes is 318 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 319 
2021): 320 
(a) It shall be a discriminatory practice in violation of this section: (1) 321 
To deny any person within the jurisdiction of this state full and equal 322 
accommodations in any place of public accommodation, resort or 323 
amusement because of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, 324 
gender identity or expression, marital status, age, lawful source of 325 
income, intellectual disability, mental disability, physical disability, 326 
including, but not limited to, blindness or deafness, or status as a 327 
veteran, of the applicant, subject only to the conditions and limitations 328 
established by law and applicable alike to all persons; (2) to 329 
discriminate, segregate or separate on account of race, creed, color, 330 
national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, marital 331 
status, age, lawful source of income, intellectual disability, mental 332 
disability, learning disability, physical disability, including, but not 333 
limited to, blindness or deafness, or status as a veteran; (3) for a place of 334 
public accommodation, resort or amusement to restrict or limit the right 335 
of a mother to breast-feed her child; (4) for a place of public 336 
accommodation, resort or amusement to [fail or refuse to post a notice, 337 
in a conspicuous place, that any blind, deaf or mobility impaired person, 338 
accompanied by his guide dog wearing a harness or an orange-colored 339 
leash and collar, may enter such premises or facilities] refuse entry to a 340 
person with a disability who is accompanied by a service animal; or (5) 341 
to deny any [blind, deaf or mobility impaired] person with a disability 342 
or any person training [a dog as a guide dog for a blind person or a dog 343 
to assist a deaf or mobility impaired] an animal as a service animal to 344 
assist a person with a disability, accompanied by his [guide dog or 345 
assistance dog] or her service animal, full and equal access to any place 346 
of public accommodation, resort or amusement. Any [blind, deaf or 347 
mobility impaired] person with a disability or any person training [a 348 
dog as a guide dog for a blind person or a dog to assist a deaf or mobility 349  Raised Bill No.  6318 
 
 
 
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impaired person] an animal as a service animal may keep his [guide dog 350 
or assistance dog with him] or her service animal at all times in such 351 
place of public accommodation, resort or amusement at no extra charge, 352 
provided [the dog wears a harness or an orange-colored leash and collar 353 
and] such service animal is in the direct custody and control of such 354 
person. [The blind, deaf or mobility impaired person or person training 355 
a dog as a guide dog for a blind person or a dog to assist a deaf or 356 
mobility impaired person] Such person or any person training an animal 357 
as a service animal to assist a person with a disability shall be liable for 358 
any damage done to the premises or facilities by his [dog] or her service 359 
animal. [For purposes of this subdivision, "guide dog" or "assistance 360 
dog" includes a dog being trained as a guide dog or assistance dog and 361 
"person training a dog as a guide dog for a blind person or a dog to assist 362 
a deaf or mobility impaired person" means a person who is employed 363 
by and authorized to engage in designated training activities by a guide 364 
dog organization or assistance dog organization that complies with the 365 
criteria for membership in a professional association of guide dog or 366 
assistance dog schools and who carries photographic identification 367 
indicating such employment and authorization.] 368 
Sec. 11. Section 52-175a of the general statutes is repealed and the 369 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 370 
The failure of a blind person to use a [guide dog] service animal or to 371 
carry a cane or walking stick which is predominantly white or metallic 372 
in color, with or without red tip, shall not be construed as evidence of 373 
comparative or contributory negligence in any negligence action. For 374 
purposes of this section, "service animal" has the same meaning as 375 
provided in 28 CFR 35.104, as amended from time to time, and includes 376 
a service animal in training. 377 
Sec. 12. Section 54-201 of the general statutes is repealed and the 378 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 379 
As used in sections 54-201 to 54-235, inclusive: 380 
(1) "Victim" means a person who is injured or killed as provided in 381  Raised Bill No.  6318 
 
 
 
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section 54-209; 382 
(2) "Personal injury" means (A) actual bodily harm or emotional harm 383 
and includes pregnancy and any condition thereof, or (B) injury or death 384 
to a service animal, as defined in 28 CFR 35.104, as amended from time 385 
to time, owned or kept by a person with a disability; 386 
(3) "Dependent" means any relative of a deceased victim or a person 387 
designated by a deceased victim in accordance with section 1-56r who 388 
was wholly or partially dependent upon his income at the time of his 389 
death or the child of a deceased victim and shall include the child of 390 
such victim born after his death; 391 
(4) "Relative" means a person's spouse, parent, grandparent, 392 
stepparent, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, child, including a natural born 393 
child, stepchild and adopted child, grandchild, brother, sister, half 394 
brother or half sister or a parent of a person's spouse; 395 
(5) "Crime" means any act which is a felony, as defined in section 53a-396 
25, or misdemeanor, as defined in section 53a-26, and includes any crime 397 
committed by a juvenile; and 398 
(6) "Emotional harm" means a mental or emotional impairment that 399 
requires treatment through services and that is directly attributable to a 400 
threat of (A) physical injury, as defined in subdivision (3) of section 53a-401 
3, or (B) death to the affected person.  402 
Sec. 13. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021) The Commission on Human 403 
Rights and Opportunities, within available appropriations, shall make 404 
available on its Internet web site links to educational materials on (1) the 405 
differences between service animals, emotional support animals and 406 
therapy animals, (2) the rights and responsibilities of an owner of each 407 
such animal under state and federal law, and (3) permissible methods 408 
under state and federal law for an owner of a place of public 409 
accommodation, resort or amusement, as defined in section 46a-63 of 410 
the general statutes, or a landlord to determine whether an animal is a 411 
service animal, emotional support animal or therapy animal. For 412  Raised Bill No.  6318 
 
 
 
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purposes of this section, "service animal" has the same meaning as 413 
provided in 28 CFR 35.104, as amended from time to time, and includes 414 
a service animal in training. 415 
Sec. 14. Section 46a-42 of the general statutes is repealed. (Effective July 416 
1, 2021)417 
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following 
sections: 
 
Section 1 July 1, 2021 5-247b 
Sec. 2 July 1, 2021 New section 
Sec. 3 July 1, 2021 13b-119(f) 
Sec. 4 July 1, 2021 14-300 
Sec. 5 July 1, 2021 22-345 
Sec. 6 July 1, 2021 22-357(a)(3) 
Sec. 7 July 1, 2021 22-358(c) 
Sec. 8 July 1, 2021 22-364b 
Sec. 9 July 1, 2021 46a-44 
Sec. 10 July 1, 2021 46a-64(a) 
Sec. 11 July 1, 2021 52-175a 
Sec. 12 July 1, 2021 54-201 
Sec. 13 July 1, 2021 New section 
Sec. 14 July 1, 202 	Repealer section 
 
Statement of Purpose:   
To align state law with federal law concerning service animals and raise 
public awareness regarding rights and responsibilities of owners of 
service, emotional support and therapy animals. 
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except 
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not 
underlined.]