86R13386 KLA-D
By: Hall S.B. No. 1607
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study on issues regarding service animals.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. (a) In this section:
(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
Commission.
(2) "Service animal" means an animal that is specially
trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability or otherwise
assist the person with the activities of daily living.
(b) The commission shall conduct a study on issues regarding
service animals. In conducting the study, the commission may
collaborate with and seek input from other appropriate state
agencies, local governmental entities, and advocacy groups for
persons with disabilities.
(c) The study must identify:
(1) the types of animals that can be trained as service
animals and the types of animals that are defined as service animals
under state and federal laws;
(2) the types of tasks a service animal can perform for
and other assistance the animal can provide to a person with a
disability, each categorized according to disability and type of
animal;
(3) the unique types of tasks a service animal can
perform for and other assistance the animal can provide to a
veteran;
(4) existing state laws that address a person who
falsely identifies an animal as a service animal and proposed state
laws and policies designed to prevent that false identification;
(5) methods to prevent the fraudulent sale of an
animal as a service animal or the sale of an animal as a service
animal with a claimed level of or claimed specialized training that
the animal does not have;
(6) methods to prevent other types of fraud concerning
the provision of a service animal to a veteran;
(7) existing service animal training programs that
certify an animal as a service animal;
(8) the best methods for licensing or certifying an
animal as a service animal; and
(9) any other issues relating to the training,
certification, identification, provision, or use of, or tasks
performed or other assistance provided by, a service animal.
(d) Not later than November 1, 2020, the commission shall
submit a written report on the findings of the study to the standing
committees of the senate and house of representatives having
jurisdiction over health and human services. The report must
include recommendations for policy and statutory changes,
including any proposed legislation, that are based on the results
of the study.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.