HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3361        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1151

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

James Arciero

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to service trained dogs.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

James Arciero

2nd Middlesex

1/16/2015


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3361        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1151

By Mr. Arciero of Westford, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1151) of James Arciero for legislation to authorize the presence of service trained dogs for certain victims and witnesses who are minor children or adults with disabilities.  The Judiciary.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1172 OF 2013-2014.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

_______________

 

An Act relative to service trained dogs.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1Section 3 of chapter 258B of the general laws is hereby further amended by inserting, at the end thereof, the following new subsections:-

(w)  for victims and witnesses who are minor children or adults with disabilities as defined in subsection (k) of section 13 of chapter 265, as so appearing, notwithstanding any law to the contrary, to have a trained service dog with the victim or witness, in addition to the victim witness advocate, in the courtroom during the child’s or adult’s court proceedings,  including testimony, unless, in written findings made and entered, the court finds that the defendant’s constitutional right to a fair trial will be prejudiced;  For purposes of this section, a trained service dog shall mean a dog and their handler who hold a public access certificate from Assistance Dog International.  Said dog will have a minimum of two years of extensive and specialized training and be handled by an individual working professionally in the area of victim services.