S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  6892

                       2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                             April 23, 2013
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. ABINANTI -- read once and referred to the Commit-
  tee on Transportation

AN  ACT  to  amend  the  transportation law and the civil rights law, in
  relation to allowing therapy dogs to enter public  places  and  public
  transportation

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Section 147 of the transportation law, as amended by  chap-
ter 404 of the laws of 1986, is amended to read as follows:
  S 147. Dogs  accompanying  persons  with a disability.  (A) Subject to
such rules and regulations as the commissioner may prescribe, all common
and contract carriers of passengers by  motor  vehicle  shall  permit  a
guide  dog,  hearing  dog  [or],  service  dog  OR  THERAPY DOG properly
harnessed, accompanying a person with a disability, as defined in subdi-
vision twenty-one of section two hundred  ninety-two  of  the  executive
law,  OR  AN  OWNER  OR HANDLER OF SUCH DOGS OR SUCH PERSONS LICENSED TO
TRAIN SUCH DOGS to aid and guide such DISABLED person, to  ride  on  all
vehicles operated for transportation and no charge shall be made for the
transportation of such dog.
  (B)  FOR  PURPOSES  OF  THIS SECTION, "THERAPY DOG" SHALL MEAN ANY DOG
THAT IS CERTIFIED AND TRAINED TO WORK OR PERFORM SPECIFIC TASKS FOR  THE
BENEFIT  OF  PERSONS  INCLUDING  THOSE  WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, AUTISM, DRUG
ADDICTION, DISTRESS DUE TO EMOTIONAL AND  PHYSICAL  ABUSE  AND  CLINICAL
DEPRESSION  OR  BIPOLAR  DISEASE  BY  A  RECOGNIZED THERAPY DOG TRAINING
CENTER OR PROFESSIONAL THERAPY DOG TRAINER AND IS ACTUALLY USED FOR SUCH
PURPOSE.
  S 2. Subdivision 1 of section 47 of the civil rights law,  as  amended
by chapter 404 of the laws of 1986, is amended to read as follows:
  1. (A) No person shall be denied admittance to and/or the equal use of
and  enjoyment  of  any  public facility solely because said person is a
person with a disability and is accompanied by a guide dog, hearing  dog

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD03655-01-3
              

A. 6892                             2

[or],  service  dog OR THERAPY DOG OR IS AN OWNER OR HANDLER OF SUCH DOG
OR OTHERWISE A PERSON LICENSED TO TRAIN SUCH DOGS.
  (B)  FOR  PURPOSES  OF  THIS SECTION, "THERAPY DOG" SHALL MEAN ANY DOG
THAT IS CERTIFIED AND TRAINED TO WORK OR PERFORM SPECIFIC TASKS FOR  THE
BENEFIT  OF  PERSONS  INCLUDING  THOSE  WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, AUTISM, DRUG
ADDICTION, DISTRESS DUE TO EMOTIONAL AND  PHYSICAL  ABUSE  AND  CLINICAL
DEPRESSION  OR  BIPOLAR  DISEASE  BY  A  RECOGNIZED THERAPY DOG TRAINING
CENTER OR PROFESSIONAL THERAPY DOG TRAINER AND IS ACTUALLY USED FOR SUCH
PURPOSE.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.