S538 Amends “Law Against Discrimination” to provide every person engaged in raising a dog for guide or service the right to access public facilities
January 17, 2010
S538 would amend section 5 of the New Jersey “Law Against Discrimination,†P.L.1977, c.456 (C.10:5-29.3), to provide everyÂ
person engaged in raising a dog for guide or service, the same rights and privileges with respect to access to public facilities as a person with a disability, for dog training purposes.Â
Under current law, professional service and guide dog trainers, who typically begin training dogs at 18 to 20 months of age, have the same rights and privileges with respect to access to public facilities as persons with disabilities. However, there are volunteers who often raise service and guide dogs prior to their entering formal training, from approximately eight weeks to 18 months, who do not have the same rights as persons with disabilities or professional trainers. This bill would extend the rights and privileges of persons with disabilities with respect to access to public facilities, to persons who volunteer to raise service or guide dogs, subject to them meeting the requirements in this bill. Â
This bill requires that in public facilities a service or guide dog in training must (1) wear a collar, leash, or other appropriate apparel or device that identifies the dog as a participant in a training program with an accredited service or guide dog training program; and (2) be held on a leash, and under the control of the person raising the dog for an accredited program. The bill also requires that the volunteer have in his possession, and available forÂ
inspection, credentials from an accredited program identifying him as a participant in a service or guide dog training program.
Primary Sponsor: Thomas H. Kean, Jr.
Primary Sponsor: Jeff Van Drew
January 12, 2010Â Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
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