Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee House Bill HB0762 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2	2		SENATE BILL 391
3	3		By Hatcher
4	4
5	5		HOUSE BILL 762
6		-	By ~~Littleton~~
	6	+	By Lafferty
7	7
8	8
9	9		HB0762
10	10		000390
11	11		- 1 -
12	12
13	13		AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 24;
14	14		Title 36; Title 37 and Title 40, relative to certified
15	15		facility dogs.
16	16
17	17		BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
18	18		SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 24, Chapter 7, is amended by adding
19	19		the following as a new section:
20	20		24-7-126.
21	21		(a) As used in this section:
22	22		(1) "Assistance dog organization" means a nonprofit organization that
23	23		sets standards of training for the health, welfare, task work, and oversight of
24	24		assistance dogs and assistance dog handlers;
25	25		(2) "Certified facility dog" means a trained working dog that has:
26	26		(A) Documentation showing that the certified facility dog is a
27	27		graduate of an assistance dog organization;
28	28		(B) At least two (2) years of training and passed the service dog
29	29		public access test;
30	30		(C) A current annual certificate of health from a veterinarian
31	31		licensed in this state; and
32	32		(D) Proof of liability insurance in the minimum amount of five
33	33		hundred thousand dollars ($500,000); and
34	34		(3) "Certified handler" means a person who has received training from an
35	35		assistance dog organization and has received training on the protocols and
36	36		policies of legal proceedings and the role of the certified facility dog and certified
37	37
38	38
39	39		- 2 - 000390
40	40
41	41		handler to ensure that there is no interference with the collection of evidence,
42	42		presentation of testimony, or administration of justice.
43	43		(b) The court may allow a certified facility dog to accompany a victim or other
44	44		witness while testifying or in other court proceedings for the purpose of reducing the
45	45		stress of the witness and to enhance the ability of the court to obtain full and accurate
46	46		testimony.
47	47		(c) If a court allows the use of a certified facility dog to accompany a witness on
48	48		the witness stand during a court proceeding in which a jury has been empaneled, then:
49	49		(1) The certified facility dog must be accompanied by a certified handler
50	50		to and from the witness stand outside the presence of the jury and the certified
51	51		handler must maintain a position in the courtroom within view of the witness
52	52		stand during the witness's testimony; and
53	53		(2) The court shall inform the jury of the presence of the certified facility
54	54		dog and instruct the jury that the presence of the certified facility dog shall not be
55	55		construed to prejudice any party.
56	56		(d) During trial proceedings, the court must take all necessary precautions to
57	57		obscure the presence of the certified facility dog from the jury as much as possible.
58	58		(e) A certified facility dog must wear visible markings identifying the dog as a
59	59		certified facility dog while working.
60	60		(f) Prior to the use of a certified facility dog in a court proceeding, the party
61	61		seeking to use the certified facility dog must file a motion with the court requesting
62	62		approval of the use of the certified facility dog. The court may examine and confirm the
63	63		credentials of the certified facility dog and the certified handler.
64	64		SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.