STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8926
IN ASSEMBLY
January 8, 2018
___________
Introduced by M. of A. TITONE -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend a chapter of the laws of 2017, amending the agriculture
and markets law relating to examining the need for standards for the
designation of therapy dogs and the definition and identification of
therapy dogs, in relation to examining the need for standards for the
designation of therapy dogs
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 1 of a chapter of the laws of 2017, amending the
2 agriculture and markets law relating to examining the need for standards
3 for the designation of therapy dogs and the definition and identifica-
4 tion of therapy dogs, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 6565
5 and A. 6801-A, is amended to read as follows:
6 Section 1. The commissioner of agriculture and markets shall convene a
7 working group to examine the need for statewide standards for therapy
8 dogs, as such term is defined in subdivision 26 of section 108 of arti-
9 cle 7 of the agriculture and markets law, including, but not limited to,
10 training, evaluation and certification procedures for the designation of
11 a dog as a "therapy dog" and the need for identification, education and
12 information for the public about such dogs, the rights and responsibil-
13 ities of such dog owners, the use of such dogs in institutions and
14 facilities and the distinction between such dogs and service dogs or
15 animals and other similar dogs or animals such as emotional support
16 animals. The [commissioner] working group shall [consult with the
17 commissioners] include representatives from the department of agricul-
18 ture and markets, the department of health [and], the office of mental
19 health, the division of human rights [and], the office of alcoholism and
20 substance abuse services, the office of children and family services,
21 the office for the aging, the division of veterans' affairs and relevant
22 stakeholders, including but not limited to, representatives of the dog
23 training industry, the disability community, animal protection organiza-
24 tions, the business community, local government officials, and the
25 medical and mental health community and professionals, among others [in
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10693-07-8
A. 8926 2
1 reviewing the need for the establishment of such state standards and any
2 other recommendations related to the commissioner's findings]. The
3 [commissioner] working group shall report to the governor, the temporary
4 president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly no later than
5 October 1, 2018 on the [commissioner's] findings regarding the need for
6 standards and public information regarding therapy dogs.
7 § 2. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same
8 manner as a chapter of the laws of 2017, amending the agriculture and
9 markets law relating to examining the need for standards for the desig-
10 nation of therapy dogs and the definition and identification of therapy
11 dogs, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 6565 and A. 6801-A,
12 takes effect.
