New Jersey Assembly Bill A3599

New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/12/24
• Refer: 2/12/24

Caption

Amends "Law Against Discrimination" to provide every person engaged in raising a dog for guide or service the right to access public facilities.

Impact

Currently, only professional service and guide dog trainers are afforded these privileges, which means that volunteers, who often raise these dogs for a significant time before formal training starts, face restrictions. By extending these rights to volunteers, the bill aims to promote greater inclusivity and support for the early stages of service dog training. This change could enhance the effectiveness of training programs and potentially increase the number of well-trained service and guide dogs available to assist individuals with disabilities.

Summary

Assembly Bill A3599, introduced in the New Jersey 221st Legislature, seeks to amend the state's Law Against Discrimination by ensuring that individuals engaged in raising service or guide dogs have the same rights and privileges with respect to access to public facilities as persons with disabilities. This amendment recognizes the critical role that volunteers play in the early training process of these dogs, allowing them access to public spaces in order to facilitate the dogs' socialization and training during the formative months of their development.

Contention

While the bill generally has support from disability advocates and training organizations, there may be concerns regarding public safety and the readiness of young dogs in public spaces. Some may argue that without sufficient training or control, service dogs in training might create challenges in environments such as restaurants or public transport. However, the bill addresses this by stipulating that the dogs must wear identifying apparel and be under the direct control of their raisers at all times, seeking to assuage such concerns.