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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study on issues regarding service animals. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services |
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Commission. |
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(2) "Service animal" means an animal that is specially |
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trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability or otherwise |
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assist the person with the activities of daily living. |
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(b) The commission shall conduct a study on issues regarding |
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service animals. In conducting the study, the commission may |
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collaborate with and seek input from other appropriate state |
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agencies, local governmental entities, and advocacy groups for |
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persons with disabilities. |
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(c) The study must identify: |
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(1) the types of animals that can be trained as service |
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animals and the types of animals that are defined as service animals |
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under state and federal laws; |
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(2) the types of tasks a service animal can perform for |
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and other assistance the animal can provide to a person with a |
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disability, each categorized according to disability and type of |
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animal; |
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(3) the unique types of tasks a service animal can |
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perform for and other assistance the animal can provide to a |
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veteran; |
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(4) existing state laws that address a person who |
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falsely identifies an animal as a service animal and proposed state |
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laws and policies designed to prevent that false identification; |
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(5) methods to prevent the fraudulent sale of an |
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animal as a service animal or the sale of an animal as a service |
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animal with a claimed level of or claimed specialized training that |
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the animal does not have; |
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(6) methods to prevent other types of fraud concerning |
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the provision of a service animal to a veteran; |
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(7) existing service animal training programs that |
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certify an animal as a service animal; |
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(8) the best methods for licensing or certifying an |
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animal as a service animal; and |
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(9) any other issues relating to the training, |
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certification, identification, provision, or use of, or tasks |
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performed or other assistance provided by, a service animal. |
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(d) Not later than November 1, 2020, the commission shall |
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submit a written report on the findings of the study to the standing |
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committees of the senate and house of representatives having |
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jurisdiction over health and human services. The report must |
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include recommendations for policy and statutory changes, |
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including any proposed legislation, that are based on the results |
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of the study. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |