EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
Italics indicate opposite chamber/conference committee amendments.
*sb0157*
SENATE BILL 157
O3, P1 (5lr0612)
ENROLLED BILL
— Finance/Health and Government Operations —
Introduced by Senators Simonaire, Carozza, and Guzzone
Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
_______ day of _______________ at ________________________ o’clock, ________M.
______________________________________________
President.
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Maryland Disability Service Animal Program – Established 2
FOR the purpose of establishing the Maryland Disability Service Animal Program in the 3
Department of Disabilities; requiring the Department to select a nonprofit training 4
entity for participation in the Program; establishing the Maryland Disability Service 5
Animal Program Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund; and generally relating to the 6
Maryland Disability Service Animal Program. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – Human Services 9
Section 7–114 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 12
BY adding to 13 2 SENATE BILL 157
Article – Human Services 1
Section 7–1201 through 7–1206 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 12. Maryland 2
Disability Service Animal Program” 3
Annotated Code of Maryland 4
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 5
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 6
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 7
Article – Human Services 8
7–114. 9
(a) (1) The Department is the principal unit of State government responsible 10
for developing, maintaining, revising, and enforcing statewide disability policies and 11
standards throughout the units of State government. 12
(2) In this capacity, the Department shall: 13
(i) serve as the principal advisor to the Governor on the means and 14
methods available to: 15
1. implement and fund support to i ndividuals with 16
disabilities in accordance with the State Disabilities Plan; 17
2. modify or consolidate support to individuals with 18
disabilities; and 19
3. collaborate with federal, regional, and local units of 20
government to enhance the effectiveness of the provision and funding of support to 21
individuals with disabilities; 22
(ii) annually recommend projects to the Department of Budget and 23
Management for inclusion in the capital budget to promote access to State–owned facilities 24
for individuals with disabilities; 25
(iii) assist units of State government to identify federal, State, local, 26
and private funds available to the State for programs and services for individuals with 27
disabilities; and 28
(iv) provide technical assistance to local jurisdictions in planning and 29
implementing collaborative strategies consistent with the State Disabilities Plan. 30
(b) The Department shall oversee and administer the following programs and 31
units: 32
(1) constituent services and ombudsmen programs; 33 SENATE BILL 157 3
(2) the Assistive Technology Guaranteed Loan Program under Subtitle 6 1
of this title; 2
(3) the Office of Personal Assistance Services, including the Attendant 3
Care Program under Subtitle 4 of this title; 4
(4) Telecommunications Access of Maryland under Subtitle 8 of this title; 5
[and] 6
(5) Telecommunications Devices and Distribution of Accessible 7
Information for Disabled Individuals under Subtitle 9 of this title; AND 8
(6) THE MARYLAND DISABILITY SERVICE ANIMAL PROGRAM UNDER 9
SUBTITLE 12 OF THIS TITLE. 10
SUBTITLE 12. MARYLAND DISABILITY SERVICE ANIMAL PROGRAM. 11
7–1201. 12
(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 13
INDICATED. 14
(B) “DEPARTMENT ” MEANS THE DEPARTMENT OF DISABILITIES. 15
(C) “ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL ” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL A RESIDENT OF THE 16
STATE WITH A DISABILITY , AS DEFINED IN THE FE DERAL AMERICANS WITH 17
DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990, 42 U.S.C. § 12102. 18
(D) “FUND” MEANS THE MARYLAND DISABILITY SERVICE ANIMAL 19
PROGRAM FUND. 20
(E) “NONPROFIT TRAINING EN TITY” MEANS A CORPORATION , A 21
FOUNDATION , OR ANY OTHER LEGAL E NTITY THAT: 22
(1) IS TAX–EXEMPT UNDER § 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE 23
CODE; 24
(2) ENGAGES IN THE TRAIN ING OF SERVICE ANIMA LS FOR USE BY 25
ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS ; AND 26
(3) HAS BEEN SELECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE 27
SERVICES UNDER THIS SUBTITLE . 28
4 SENATE BILL 157
(F) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE MARYLAND DISABILITY SERVICE ANIMAL 1
PROGRAM ESTABLISHED U NDER THIS SUBTITLE . 2
(G) “PROGRAM PARTICIPANT ” MEANS AN ELIGIBLE IN DIVIDUAL WHO 3
PARTICIPATES IN THE PROGRAM. 4
(H) (1) “SERVICE ANIMAL ” MEANS AN ANIMAL THAT IS INDIVIDUALLY 5
TRAINED TO DO WORK O R PERFORM TASKS FOR THE BENEFIT OF AN IN DIVIDUAL 6
WITH A DISABILITY. 7
(2) “SERVICE ANIMAL ” DOES NOT INCLUDE AN ANIMAL THAT: 8
(I) AS A RESULT OF THE A NIMAL’S PRESENCE, IS MEANT TO 9
DETER CRIME; OR 10
(II) PROVIDES ONLY EMOTIONAL SUP PORT, WELL–BEING, 11
COMFORT, OR COMPANIONSHIP TO AN INDIVIDUAL. 12
(I) “SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM PARTICIPANT ” MEANS A PROGRAM 13
PARTICIPANT WHO SUCC ESSFULLY COMPLETES T HE TRAINING PROTOCOL 14
SPECIFIED BY A NONPR OFIT TRAINING ENTITY . 15
7–1202. 16
THERE IS A MARYLAND DISABILITY SERVICE ANIMAL PROGRAM IN THE 17
DEPARTMENT . 18
7–1203. 19
THE PURPOSES OF THE PROGRAM ARE TO : 20
(1) REFER ELIGIBLE INDIV IDUALS WHO INQUIRE A BOUT 21
PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM TO SELECT ONE OR MORE NONPROFI T TRAINING 22
ENTITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM; AND 23
(2) PROVIDE ADDITIONAL F UNDING MECHANISMS TO ASSIST 24
ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS IN THE PROGRAM; AND 25
(3) ENCOURAGE SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS TO ASSIST IN 26
OUTREACH AND REFERRA LS TO OTHER ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS WHO COUL D 27
BENEFIT FROM PARTICIPAT ION IN THE PROGRAM. 28
7–1204. 29
SENATE BILL 157 5
THE DEPARTMENT SHALL : 1
(1) MANAGE, SUPERVISE, AND ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM; 2
(2) ADOPT REGULATIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM AND TO 3
ENSURE THAT FUND RESOURCES ARE UT ILIZED TO CARRY OUT THE PURPOSES OF 4
THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING REGULATION S ESTABLISHING PROCE DURES FOR THE 5
DEPARTMENT TO : 6
(I) PROMOTE THE PROGRAM TO ELIGIBLE I NDIVIDUALS 7
THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT ’S OUTREACH METHODS ; 8
(II) REFER ELIGIBLE INDIV IDUALS TO SELECTED N ONPROFIT 9
TRAINING ENTITIES ; 10
(III) RECEIVE DONATIONS FO R THE FUND; AND 11
(IV) (II) USE REVENUE FROM THE FUND TO PAY SELECTED 12
NONPROFIT TRAINING E NTITIES FOR SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED TH ROUGH THE 13
PROGRAM; AND 14
(3) SELECT AT LEAST ONE NONPROFIT TRAINING E NTITY TO: 15
(I) DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A TRAI NING PROTOCOL THAT 16
WILL TEACH EACH PROGRAM PARTICIPANT M ETHODOLOGIES , STRATEGIES, AND 17
TECHNIQUES FOR PARTN ERING WITH SERVICE A NIMALS; 18
(II) SELECT QUALIFIED PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS FROM THOSE 19
ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS REFERRED TO THE NONPROFIT TRAINING E NTITY UNDER 20
THE PROGRAM; 21
(III) SELECT AN APPROPRIAT E SERVICE ANIMAL FOR EACH 22
PROGRAM PARTICIPANT ; 23
(IV) FACILITATE EACH PROGRAM PARTICIPANT ’S TRAINING 24
USING THE NONPROFIT TRAINING ENTITY ’S TRAINING PROTOCOL ; AND 25
(V) PARTNER EACH SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM PARTICIPANT W ITH 26
THE SERVICE ANIMAL O N THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANT ’S SUCCESSFUL COMPLET ION 27
OF THE NONPROFIT TRA INING ENTITY’S TRAINING PROTOCOL . 28
7–1205. 29
6 SENATE BILL 157
(A) TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR SE LECTION AS A NONPROF IT TRAINING ENTITY 1
UNDER § 7–1204 OF THIS SUBTITLE, A NONPROFIT TRAINING ENTITY SHALL: 2
(1) SERVE THE NEEDS OF E LIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS IN THE STATE; AND 3
(2) GENERATE ITS OWN REV ENUE AND REINVEST TH E PROCEEDS OF 4
THAT REVENUE IN THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPME NT OF ITS PROGRAMS . 5
(B) A NONPROFIT TRAINING ENTITY MAY DISQUALIFY A PROGRAM 6
PARTICIPANT FROM PAR TICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM IF THE NONPRO FIT 7
TRAINING ENTITY DETE RMINES THAT THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANT ’S INVOLVEMENT 8
IN THE PROGRAM: 9
(1) PRESENTS A DANGER TO THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANT ’S MENTAL 10
OR PHYSICAL WELL–BEING; 11
(2) PRESENTS A DIRECT TH REAT TO OTHERS , AS DEFINED BY THE 12
FEDERAL AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT; 13
(3) PRESENTS A DIRECT TH REAT TO THE SERVICE ANIMA L’S MENTAL 14
OR PHYSICAL WELL –BEING; OR 15
(4) DOES NOT MEET THE TR AINING REQUIREMENTS OF THE 16
NONPROFIT. 17
(C) A PROGRAM PARTICIPANT M AY DISCONTINUE INVOL VEMENT IN THE 18
PROGRAM FOR ANY REASO N. 19
7–1206. 20
(A) THERE IS A MARYLAND DISABILITY SERVICE ANIMAL PROGRAM FUND. 21
(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND IS TO: 22
(1) PAY A NONPROFIT TRAINING ENTITY ; AND 23
(2) COVER THE COSTS OF A DMINISTERING THE PROGRAM. 24
(C) THE SECRETARY SHALL ADMIN ISTER THE FUND. 25
(D) (1) THE FUND IS A SPECIAL , NONLAPSING FUND THAT IS NOT 26
SUBJECT TO § 7–302 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE. 27
SENATE BILL 157 7
(2) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL HOLD THE FUND, AND THE 1
COMPTROLLER SHALL ACC OUNT FOR THE FUND. 2
(E) (1) THE FUND CONSISTS OF : 3
(I) REVENUE COLLECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT IN THE FOR M 4
OF DONATIONS TO THE PROGRAM; 5
(II) MONEY APPROPRIATED I N THE STATE BUDGET TO T HE 6
FUND; AND 7
(III) ANY OTHER MONEY FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE ACC EPTED 8
FOR THE BENEFIT OF T HE FUND. 9
(2) FOR EACH FISCAL YEAR , THE GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUD E IN THE 10
ANNUAL BUDGET BILL A N APPROPRIATION OF $25,000 TO THE FUND. 11
(2) (3) EXPENDITURES FROM THE FUND MAY BE MADE ONLY IN 12
ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATE BUDGET . 13
(3) (4) MONEY EXPENDED FROM T HE FUND IS SUPPLEMENTAL TO 14
AND IS NOT INTENDED TO TAKE THE PLACE OF FUNDING THAT OTHERWI SE WOULD 15
BE APPROPRIATED FOR THE PROGRAM. 16
(F) THE FUND MAY BE USED ONLY TO PAY: 17
(1) A NONPROFIT TRAINING ENTITY; AND 18
(2) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS OF THE PROGRAM. 19
(G) (1) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL INVES T AND REINVEST THE 20
MONEY OF THE FUND IN THE SAME MANN ER AS OTHER STATE MONEY MAY BE 21
INVESTED. 22
(2) ANY INVESTMENT EARNIN GS OF THE FUND SHALL BE CREDITE D 23
TO THE GENERAL FUND OF THE STATE. 24
(H) FOR THE PURPOSE OF IM PLEMENTING THIS SECT ION, THE 25
DEPARTMENT MAY ACCEPT GIFTS OR GRANTS FOR DONATION TO THE FUND. 26
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 27
October 1, 2025: 28
(a) This Act is contingent on the Department of Disabilities certifying that the 29
Department has sufficient staff to administer the Maryland Disability Service Animal 30 8 SENATE BILL 157
Program under Title 7, Subtitle 12 of the Human Services Article, as enacted by Section 1 of 1
this Act. 2
(b) On or before October 1, 2026, the Department of Disabilities shall notify the 3
Department of Legislative Services whether the Department has certified that the 4
Department has sufficient staff to administer the Maryland Disability Service Animal 5
Program. 6
(c) (1) If the Department of Legislative Services receives notification that the 7
Department of Disabilities has sufficient staff to administer the Maryland Disability Service 8
Animal Program on or before October 1, 2026, this Act shall take effect on the date the notice 9
is received by the Department of Legislative Services in accordance with subsection (b) of 10
this section. 11
(2) If the Department of Legislative Services receives notice that the 12
Department of Disabilities lacks sufficient staff to administer the Maryland Disability 13
Service Animal Program on or before October 1, 2026, this Act, with no further action 14
required by the General Assembly, shall be null and void. 15
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.