SRC-JEC S.B. 1034 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1034
77R3791 SGA-DBy: Moncrief
Health & Human Services
3/12/2001
As Filed


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.  As proposed, S.B. 1034 clarifies that any assistance animal will
be admitted into public facilities when accompanied by its trainer and
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.