HBA-MPM S.B. 1034 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1034
By: Moncrief
Human Services
4/4/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Assistance animals are trained to assist persons with various disabilities,
not just individuals who are blind. Under current law, assistance animals
in training cannot be denied admittance into a public facility when
accompanied by its trainer or a blind handler.  As a result of the
statutory language, some owners and managers of public facilities have been
hesitant to admit an assistance animal that is not trained as a seeingeye
assistant.  Senate Bill 1034 clarifies that animals in training to assist
persons with various disabilities cannot be denied admittance into a public
facility when the animal is accompanied by its trainer or handler. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 1034 amends the Human Resources Code to prohibit any public
facility from denying  an assistance animal in training from admittance
when accompanied by an approved trainer or the animal's handler.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.