HCS/HB 1428 - This act adds "mental health service dog" to the definition of a service dog. A mental health service dog, or psychiatric service dog, is a dog that has been individually trained for an owner who has a psychiatric disability, medical condition, or developmental disability, including but not limited to: autism spectrum disorder, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and schizophrenia. The dog is trained to perform tasks to assist the owner, including alerting or responding to panic attacks and anxiety, as well as performing other tasks directly related to the owner's disability. Under current law, any person who owns, keeps, harbors, or exercises control over an animal and who knowingly and intentionally fails to exercise sufficient control over the animal to prevent it from chasing or harassing a service dog while the service dog is carrying out its function, and thus temporarily interferes with the dog's ability to carry out its function, shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. Under this act, such person may be ordered to pay restitution in an amount that fully compensates the owner for the injury, loss, or replacement of his or her service dog. Any person who knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly causes substantial physical injury to or the death of a service dog may also be required to compensate the owner for the injury, loss, or replacement of the service dog. This act is similar to HB 787 (2015) and HB 142 (2015). SARAH HASKINS
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