House File 244 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 244 BY HERMANSON , C. JOHNSON , BLOOMINGDALE , GEARHART , and LATHAM A BILL FOR An Act relating to the offense of intentional 1 misrepresentation of an animal as a service animal or 2 service-animal-in-training. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 2264YH (4) 91 cm/jh
H.F. 244 Section 1. Section 216C.11, subsection 3, paragraph b, Code 1 2025, is amended to read as follows: 2 b. A person commits the offense of intentional 3 misrepresentation of an animal as a service animal or a 4 service-animal-in-training if all of the following elements are 5 established: 6 (1) For , for the purpose of obtaining any of the rights 7 or privileges set forth in state or federal law, the person 8 intentionally misrepresents an animal in ones possession 9 as ones service animal or service-animal-in-training 10 or a person with a disabilitys service animal or 11 service-animal-in-training whom the person is assisting by 12 controlling. 13 (2) The person was previously given a written or 14 verbal warning regarding the fact that it is illegal to 15 intentionally misrepresent an animal as a service animal or a 16 service-animal-in-training. 17 (3) The person knows that the animal in question is not a 18 service animal or a service-animal-in-training. 19 EXPLANATION 20 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 21 the explanations substance by the members of the general assembly. 22 This bill relates to the offense of intentional 23 misrepresentation of an animal as a service animal or 24 service-animal-in-training. Under current law, a person 25 commits the offense of intentional misrepresentation of an 26 animal as a service animal or a service-animal-in-training if 27 the three following elements are established: (1) the person 28 intentionally misrepresents an animal in ones possession 29 as ones service animal or service-animal-in-training 30 or a person with a disabilitys service animal or 31 service-animal-in-training whom the person is assisting by 32 controlling to obtain any of the rights or privileges set forth 33 in law for such animals, (2) the person was previously given a 34 written or verbal warning regarding the fact that it is illegal 35 -1- LSB 2264YH (4) 91 cm/jh 1/ 2
H.F. 244 to intentionally misrepresent an animal, and (3) the person 1 knows that the animal in question is not a service animal or a 2 service-animal-in-training. The bill strikes the second and 3 third elements. 4 A person who commits the offense of intentional 5 misrepresentation of an animal as a service animal or 6 service-animal-in-training commits a simple misdemeanor. A 7 simple misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more 8 than 30 days and a fine of at least $105 but not more than $855. 9 -2- LSB 2264YH (4) 91 cm/jh 2/ 2