STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6801--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 17, 2017
___________
Introduced by M. of A. TITONE, NIOU, BENEDETTO, HUNTER, McDONOUGH,
ABINANTI, KEARNS, TITUS, MOYA, M. G. MILLER, D'URSO, COOK, RAIA, RA,
ERRIGO, MONTESANO, CASTORINA, LAWRENCE, M. L. MILLER, HARRIS, JENNE --
Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ABBATE, HYNDMAN, WRIGHT -- read once
and referred to the Committee on Agriculture -- committee discharged,
bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said
committee
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to examin-
ing the need for standards for the designation of therapy dogs and the
definition and identification of therapy dogs
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The commissioner of agriculture and markets shall examine
2 the need for statewide standards for therapy dogs, as such term is
3 defined in subdivision 26 of section 108 of article 7 of the agriculture
4 and markets law, including, but not limited to, training, evaluation and
5 certification procedures for the designation of a dog as a "therapy dog"
6 and the need for identification, education and information for the
7 public about such dogs, the rights and responsibilities of such dog
8 owners, the use of such dogs in institutions and facilities and the
9 distinction between such dogs and service dogs or animals and other
10 similar dogs or animals such as emotional support animals. The commis-
11 sioner shall consult with the commissioners of health and human rights
12 and representatives of the dog training industry, the disability commu-
13 nity, animal protection organizations, the business community, local
14 government officials and others in reviewing the need for the establish-
15 ment of such state standards and any other recommendations related to
16 the commissioner's findings. The commissioner shall report to the gover-
17 nor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assem-
18 bly no later than October 1, 2018 on the commissioner's findings regard-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10693-04-7
A. 6801--A 2
1 ing the need for standards and public information regarding therapy
2 dogs.
3 § 2. Subdivision 26 of section 108 of the agriculture and markets law,
4 as amended by chapter 536 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read as
5 follows:
6 26. "Therapy dog" means any dog that is trained to aid the emotional
7 and physical health of patients in hospitals, nursing homes, retirement
8 homes and other settings and is actually used for such purpose, or any
9 dog during the period such dog is being trained or bred for such
10 purpose, and does not qualify under federal or state law or regulations
11 as a service dog.
12 § 3. Subdivision 4 of section 111 of the agriculture and markets law,
13 as amended by section 6 of part T of chapter 59 of the laws of 2010, is
14 amended to read as follows:
15 4. A municipality offering a license for any guide dog, service dog,
16 hearing dog, therapy dog or detection dog may issue a special tag for
17 identifying such dog, provided that such tag shall be in addition to the
18 identification tag required by subdivision one of this section. The
19 municipality may prescribe the shape, size, color, and form of imprint
20 of the tag which shall be a different color and shape than the standard
21 identification tag. Upon application, the commissioner shall furnish
22 such tags without payment of a fee.
23 § 4. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 1 of section 118 of the agriculture
24 and markets law, as amended by section 14 of part T of chapter 59 of the
25 laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
26 (c) any person to knowingly affix to any dog any false or improper
27 identification tag, special identification tag for identifying guide,
28 service, therapy or hearing dogs or purebred license tag;
29 § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.
