Bill > SB573

This bill establishes certification standards for "comfort facility dogs," which are specially trained dogs providing emotional support and crisis response in settings like hospitals, schools, and disaster areas, and are distinct from service dogs or emotional support animals. It also sets requirements for their handlers, who must be "emergency response or public safety workers" such as law enforcement officers, firefighters, or emergency medical personnel, and for "comfort facility dog teams," which consist of a trained dog and handler working together. The bill mandates specific training, including American Kennel Club (AKC) certifications like Canine Good Citizen (CGC), CGCA, and CGCU, along with ongoing training and exposure to various environments. Agencies employing these dogs must maintain detailed training records. The bill also addresses licensing, insurance, and care requirements for these dogs, including prohibiting raw diets and specifying travel confinement rules, and outlines procedures for their retirement. Furthermore, it grants comfort facility dog teams the right to accompany their handlers in public facilities and places of public accommodation while performing their duties, and prohibits misrepresenting a dog as a certified comfort facility dog.

Business and Industry, Government Affairs

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=1438&inflect=2