S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  6801--A
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              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:
 
   Section 1. The commissioner of agriculture and markets  shall  examine
 the  need  for  statewide  standards  for  therapy dogs, as such term is
 defined in subdivision 26 of section 108 of article 7 of the agriculture
 and markets law, including, but not limited to, training, evaluation and
 certification procedures for the designation of a dog as a "therapy dog"
 and the need for  identification,  education  and  information  for  the
 public  about  such  dogs,  the  rights and responsibilities of such dog
 owners, the use of such dogs in  institutions  and  facilities  and  the
 distinction  between  such  dogs  and  service dogs or animals and other
 similar dogs or animals such as emotional support animals.  The  commis-
 sioner  shall  consult with the commissioners of health and human rights
 and representatives of the dog training industry, the disability  commu-
 nity,  animal  protection  organizations,  the business community, local
 government officials and others in reviewing the need for the establish-
 ment of such state standards and any other  recommendations  related  to
 the commissioner's findings. The commissioner shall report to the gover-
 nor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assem-
 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
 
 ing  the  need  for  standards  and public information regarding therapy
 dogs.
   § 2. Subdivision 26 of section 108 of the agriculture and markets law,
 as  amended  by  chapter  536 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read as
 follows:
   26. "Therapy dog" means any dog that is trained to aid  the  emotional
 and  physical health of patients in hospitals, nursing homes, retirement
 homes and other settings and is actually used for such purpose,  or  any
 dog  during  the  period  such  dog  is  being  trained or bred for such
 purpose, AND DOES NOT QUALIFY UNDER FEDERAL OR STATE LAW OR  REGULATIONS
 AS A SERVICE DOG.
   §  3. Subdivision 4 of section 111 of the agriculture and markets law,
 as amended by section 6 of part T of chapter 59 of the laws of 2010,  is
 amended to read as follows:
   4.  A  municipality offering a license for any guide dog, service dog,
 hearing dog, THERAPY DOG or detection dog may issue a  special  tag  for
 identifying such dog, provided that such tag shall be in addition to the
 identification  tag  required  by  subdivision  one of this section. The
 municipality may prescribe the shape, size, color, and form  of  imprint
 of  the tag which shall be a different color and shape than the standard
 identification tag. Upon application,  the  commissioner  shall  furnish
 such tags without payment of a fee.
   §  4. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 1 of section 118 of the agriculture
 and markets law, as amended by section 14 of part T of chapter 59 of the
 laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
   (c) any person to knowingly affix to any dog  any  false  or  improper
 identification  tag,  special  identification tag for identifying guide,
 service, THERAPY or hearing dogs or purebred license tag;
   § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.