| TO: | Honorable Joe Deshotel, Chair, House Committee on Business & Industry |
| FROM: | John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB3487 by Taylor, Van (Relating to regulations concerning certain service animals; providing a civil penalty.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend the Business and Commerce Code and prohibits a commercial lodging establishment or restaurant from charging a fee or security deposit for a service canine who accompanies certain specified canine handlers to the establishment or restaurant under two conditions. The conditions which must be present are: a disaster declaration has been issued or the dogs are present due to a mutual aid request or training exercise. It is anticipated that any additional costs associated with implementation of the legislation could be absorbed within existing resources.
The bill also provides that a commercial lodging establishment or restaurant that violates provisions of the bill is liable to the state for a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for each violation. The Office of the Attorney General may bring suit to recover the penalty. The number of potential violations and the amount of penalties levied are unknown. Therefore, there could be an indeterminate revenue increase to the state.
| Source Agencies: | 302 Office of the Attorney General, 405 Department of Public Safety
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, AG, JM
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