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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 605 FILED ON: 1/10/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1686
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Kimberly N. Ferguson and Meghan K. Kilcoyne
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to a commission to study the intentional misrepresentation of a service animal.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Kimberly N. Ferguson1st Worcester1/10/2025Sean Garballey23rd Middlesex2/4/2025Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester1/24/2025Bradley H. Jones, Jr.20th Middlesex1/21/2025Hannah Kane11th Worcester1/16/2025Meghan K. Kilcoyne12th Worcester1/13/2025Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida7th Plymouth2/5/2025Steven George Xiarhos5th Barnstable1/25/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 605 FILED ON: 1/10/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1686
By Representatives Ferguson of Holden and Kilcoyne of Clinton, a petition (accompanied by
bill, House, No. 1686) of Kimberly N. Ferguson, Sean Garballey and others for an investigation
by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to the intentional
misrepresentation of a service animal. The Judiciary.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to a commission to study the intentional misrepresentation of a service animal.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. (a) There shall be a special legislative commission established pursuant to
2section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws to study and report on the use of service animals in
3the commonwealth. The commission shall consist of 17 members: 2 of whom shall be the chairs
4of the joint committee on the judiciary or their designees, who shall serve as co-chairs; 1 of
5whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; 1 of whom shall be
6appointed by the senate president; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the house minority leader; 1
7of whom shall be appointed by the senate minority leader; 1 of whom shall be the governor or
8their designee; 1 of whom shall be the attorney general or their designee; 1 of whom shall be the
9director of the Massachusetts office on disability or their designee; 1 of whom shall be the
10executive director of the Massachusetts commission against discrimination or their designee; 1 of
11whom shall be the executive director of the municipal police training committee established
12pursuant to section 116 of chapter 6 of the General Laws or their designee; 1 of whom shall be 2 of 3
13the executive director of the mental health legal advisors committee established pursuant to
14section 34E of chapter 221 of the General Laws or their designee; 1 of whom shall be the
15president and chief executive officer of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, Inc. or their
16designee; and 4 members who shall be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a
17professional service dog organization headquartered in the commonwealth accredited by
18Assistance Dogs International, specializing in public advocacy and education and the training of
19service dogs that has been in existence for not less than 46 years and has placed not less than 900
20service dogs in the commonwealth, 1 of whom shall be a representative from Tanglewood in the
21town of Lenox, 1 of whom shall be a member of an association advocating for the interests of
22retailers in the commonwealth and 1 of whom shall be a person with a disability who resides in
23the commonwealth who is an employee of a service dog training team in which the service dog
24has received its training from an Assistance Dogs International accredited service dog
25organization.
26 (b) The study shall include, but shall not be limited to: (i) reviewing current federal, state
27and local laws and procedures governing the use of service animals; (ii) examining the use and
28benefit of service animals by individuals with disabilities; (iii) investigating the presence,
29prevalence and impact of fraud, misrepresentation and other misuse of service animals; (iv)
30researching laws and practices in other jurisdictions with the objective to deter the misuse of
31service animals; and (v) identifying training and educational opportunities aimed at increasing
32understanding of laws governing the use of service animals among public officials, law
33enforcement, business owners and members of the public. The commission shall report on: (A)
34recommending changes to laws governing the use of service animals, if any, including the
35definition of “service animal” and whether to introduce legislation prohibiting and civilly 3 of 3
36penalizing service animal fraud; and (B) determining the feasibility of certifying, registering or
37licensing service animals.
38 (c) The commission shall file its report not later than April 1, 2026 with the clerks of the
39house of representatives and the senate, the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways
40and means and the chairs of the joint committee on the judiciary.