BILL NUMBER: S4802

SPONSOR: MARTINEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in
relation to requiring the commissioner of agriculture and markets to
identify and develop standards for therapy dogs

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill would lead to state guidance on best practices for therapy
dogs, for handlers of the dogs, the institutions where the dogs are
brought, and the public.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: The Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets, with other rele-
vant agencies and stakeholders, is authorized to identify, and if neces-
sary develop guidance for therapy dogs, their handlers and institutions
using such dogs on assessment and training, risk management, animal
welfare and best practices. The guidance would be available on the
Department's website and provided to municipalities that issue special
              

therapy dog tags.

Section 2: Establishes the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Therapy dogs are used to help children, seniors, college students and
residents of institutions such as nursing homes or mental health facili-
ties. These dogs have been shown to have a positive emotional effect on
those they are brought to visit, but there has been some public
confusion about the role of therapy dogs. Chapter 37 of the Laws of 2018
required a working group to examine issues related to these dogs, espe-
cially the need for education, training, identifying what they do, and
clarifying the differences from service dogs and emotional support
animals. The working group consisting of multiple state agencies, repre-
sentatives of disability rights groups and animal protective advocates
came up with recommendations for standards to protect the animals,
provide training and/or certification for animals and considerations for
facilities using therapy dogs.

The report of the working group, issued in October, 2018, is a useful
tool to develop guidance that the State should make available, so that
the public knows what a therapy dog is and how they should be trained
and used, especially when local governments issue official tags desig-
nating therapy dogs.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

This is a new bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

There are no fiscal implications to the State or local governments.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This bill shall take effect immediately.