HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 2333

                       As Passed House

                      February 14, 1992

Title:  An act relating to guide and service dogs.

Brief Description:  Redefining guide and service dogs.

Sponsor(s):  By House Committee on Human Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Vance, Winsley, Roland, Tate, Leonard, Hochstatter, Hargrove, Nealey, Forner, Paris and Carlson).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Human Services, February 6, 1992, DPS;

Passed House, February 14, 1992, 95-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Leonard, Chair; Riley, Vice Chair; Winsley, Ranking Minority Member; Tate, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Anderson; Beck; Brekke; Hargrove; Hochstatter; R. King; and H. Myers.

Staff:  David Knutson (786-7146).

Background:  Washington state policy guarantees blind, handicapped, and impaired citizens the full and free use of all public places.  This includes full and equal access to any place open to the general public.  It is illegal to deny access to any place open to the general public to a blind, impaired, or disabled person accompanied by a trained or approved guide dog or service dog.  Guide dogs and service dogs not yet trained or approved have been denied access to some places which are open to the public.

Summary of Bill:  The governor's committee on disability issues and employment, in conjunction with other organizations involved with the blind and physically disabled, will study and make recommendations on improving enforcement of the white cane law.  The study will also address ways to provide guide and service dogs in training with the training experiences necessary to prepare them for careers as guide or service dogs.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Trainers of guide or service dogs should be allowed to take the dogs into all public places blind and disabled people can go with guide and service dogs.  Many trainers involved with the 4-H program who train guide or service dogs have been denied access to places open to the public.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Doug Prindle, Lindsey Ross, Aaron Prindle, Marianne Wilson, Mary Ross, Claudia Quinn, Glen Allred and Christine Wilson, Future Vision 4-H Club; and Mrs. John Meads, Pierce, Mason, and Thurston Counties Coordinator Puppy Raisers.