SRC-JEC H.B. 1782 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1782 77R3791 SGA-DBy: Naishtat (Moncrief) Health & Human Services 5/2/2001 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, an assistance animal in training is allowed to enter any public facility when accompanied by its trainer and/or its blind handler. However, many assistance animals are trained to assist people with other disabilities besides blindness, including deafness and wheelchair use. Past amendments to this statute inadvertently left the word "blind" in the statute. H.B. 1782 clarifies that any assistance animal will be admitted into public facilities when accompanied by its trainer and/or handler. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 121.003(i), Human Resources Code, to delete the word "blind" to describe handlers of assistance animals who shall not be denied entrance to any public facility. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.