HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4329

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, February 8, 2024.

The committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1480) of Kimberly N. Ferguson and others for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to the intentional misrepresentation of a service animal and the petition (accompanied by bill, House. No. 1481) of Kimberly N. Ferguson and others relative to the misrepresentation of a service animal, reports recommending that the accompanying bill (House, No. 4329) ought to pass.

For the committee,

MICHAEL S. DAY.

        FILED ON: 2/5/2024

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4329

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act relative to a commission to study the intentional misrepresentation of a service animal.

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

(a) There shall be a special legislative commission established pursuant to section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws to study and report on the use of service animals in the commonwealth. The commission shall consist of 15 members: 2 of whom shall be the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on the judiciary or their designees, who shall serve as co-chairs; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the senate president; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the house minority leader; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the senate minority leader; 1 of whom shall be the attorney general or their designee; 1 of whom shall be the director of the Massachusetts office on disability or their designee; 1 of whom shall be the chair of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination or their designee; 1 of whom shall be the chair of the municipal police training committee established pursuant to section 116 of chapter 6 of the General Laws or their designee; 1 of whom shall be the executive director of the mental health legal advisors committee established pursuant to section 34E of chapter 221 of the General Laws or their designee; 1 of whom shall be the president of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association or their designee; and 3 members who shall be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a representative of a professional organization specializing in the advocacy, education or training of service animals, 1 of whom shall be a representative of a professional organization specializing in the advocacy, education, and/or training of other animals, including emotional support, companion, or comfort animals, and 1 of whom shall be a member of an association advocating for the interests of retailers in the commonwealth.

(b) The study shall include, but not be limited to: (i) reviewing current federal, state and local laws and procedures governing the use of service animals in the commonwealth; (ii) examining the use and benefit of service animals by individuals with disabilities in the commonwealth; (iii) investigating the presence, prevalence and impact of fraud, misrepresentation and other misuse of service animals in the commonwealth; (iv) researching laws and practices in other jurisdictions with the objective to deter the misuse of service animals; and (v) identifying training and educational opportunities aimed at increasing understanding of laws governing the use of service animals among public officials, law enforcement, business owners and members of the public in the commonwealth. The commission shall report on its findings, including, but not limited to: (i) recommending changes to laws governing the use of service animals in the commonwealth, if any, including the definition of “service animal” and whether to introduce legislation prohibiting and civilly penalizing service animal fraud; and (ii) determining the feasibility of certifying, registering or licensing service animals in the commonwealth.

(c) The commission shall file its report not later than April 1, 2025 with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, who shall forward a copy of the report to the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on the judiciary.