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S06565 Summary:

S06565 Actions:

S06565 Committee Votes:

S06565 Floor Votes:

S06565 Text:

 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          6565
 
                               2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                    IN SENATE
 
                                      June 2, 2017
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced by Sen. MARCHIONE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
 
        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-
    19  ing the need for standards  and  public  information  regarding  therapy
    20  dogs.
    21    § 2. Subdivision 26 of section 108 of the agriculture and markets law,
    22  as  amended  by  chapter  536 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read as
    23  follows:

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD10693-06-7
        S. 6565                             2
 
     1    26. "Therapy dog" means any dog that is trained to aid  the  emotional
     2  and  physical health of patients in hospitals, nursing homes, retirement
     3  homes and other settings and is actually used for such purpose,  or  any
     4  dog  during  the  period  such  dog  is  being  trained or bred for such
     5  purpose,  and does not qualify under federal or state law or regulations
     6  as a service dog.
     7    § 3. Subdivision 4 of section 111 of the agriculture and markets  law,
     8  as  amended by section 6 of part T of chapter 59 of the laws of 2010, is
     9  amended to read as follows:
    10    4. A municipality offering a license for any guide dog,  service  dog,
    11  hearing  dog,  therapy  dog or detection dog may issue a special tag for
    12  identifying such dog, provided that such tag shall be in addition to the
    13  identification tag required by subdivision  one  of  this  section.  The
    14  municipality  may  prescribe the shape, size, color, and form of imprint
    15  of the tag which shall be a different color and shape than the  standard
    16  identification  tag.  Upon  application,  the commissioner shall furnish
    17  such tags without payment of a fee.
    18    § 4. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 1 of section 118 of the  agriculture
    19  and markets law, as amended by section 14 of part T of chapter 59 of the
    20  laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
    21    (c)  any  person  to  knowingly affix to any dog any false or improper
    22  identification tag, special identification tag  for  identifying  guide,
    23  service, therapy or hearing dogs or purebred license tag;
    24    § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.