Service Dog Fraud (H 7612 Sub A as amended, S 2432)

Well-intentioned legislation relating to the fraudulent portrayal of a pet as a service animal prompted ACLU concerns.

Well-intentioned legislation relating to the fraudulent portrayal of a pet as a service animal prompted ACLU concerns. Misrepresentation of such animals can create real problems for people with genuine service animals. However, this open-ended bill contained provisions running counter to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and allowing businesses to inappropriately interrogate customers with service animals. The ACLU urged the adoption of amendments to the legislation to address this. The House agreed to those recommendations, and passed an amended version of the legislation in June, but the Senate did not act on the bill before the end of the session.