Bill

Bill > H1686


MA H1686

MA H1686
Relative to a commission to study the intentional misrepresentation of a service animal


summary

Introduced
02/27/2025
In Committee
02/27/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

194th General Court

Bill Summary

Relative to the intentional misrepresentation of a service animal. The Judiciary.

AI Summary

This bill establishes a special legislative commission to comprehensively study service animals in Massachusetts, comprising 17 members from various government agencies, legislative bodies, advocacy groups, and disability organizations. The commission will investigate several key aspects of service animal use, including current laws and procedures, the benefits for individuals with disabilities, the prevalence of service animal fraud and misrepresentation, and potential legislative solutions. Specifically, the commission will review existing federal, state, and local regulations; examine how service animals assist people with disabilities; research fraud and misuse of service animal designations; study practices in other jurisdictions to prevent service animal misuse; and identify training opportunities to improve understanding of service animal laws among public officials, law enforcement, businesses, and the general public. The commission is tasked with producing a comprehensive report by April 1, 2026, which will include recommendations for potential legal changes, such as refining the definition of "service animal" and exploring the possibility of introducing civil penalties for service animal fraud, as well as assessing the feasibility of implementing a certification, registration, or licensing system for service animals.

Committee Categories

Justice

Sponsors (2)

Last Action

Hearing scheduled for 04/08/2025 from 01:00 PM-02:30 PM in A-2 (on 10/14/2025)

bill text


bill summary

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bill summary

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bill summary

Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1686
BillText https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1686.pdf
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