Under this act, service dogs are defined as dogs that have been specially trained to do work or perform tasks which benefit a particular person with a disability and includes guide dogs for the blind or visually impaired, hearing dogs, medical alert dogs, and mobility dogs.

Any person who causes physical injury or death of a service dog is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Any person who knowingly fails to control his or her animal from causing physical injury or death of a service dog is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

Any person who knowingly harasses a service dog or fails to control his or her animal from harassing a service dog such that the service dog is prevented from performing its duties is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. Civil damages may be recovered by the service dog owner or the person with a disability who uses the service dog.

Anyone who knowingly impersonates a person with a disability by representing himself of herself as disabled or represents his or her dog as a service dog is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor and is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor upon a subsequent violation, and such person is also liable for any actual damages resulting from the impersonation.

This act contains an emergency clause for Sections 209.200 to 209.204, specifically relating to service dogs.

ADRIANE CROUSE