SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   ESHB 2333

             AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE,

                               FEBRUARY 24, 1992

Brief Description:  Redefining guide and service dogs.

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

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG‑TERM CARE

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

      Signed by Senators West, Chairman; L. Smith, Vice Chairman; M. Kreidler, Niemi, Sumner, and Wojahn.

Staff:  Martin Lovinger (786‑7443)

Hearing Dates: February 24, 1992

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:

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 by December 15, 1992.  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.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

Trainers of guide and service dogs should be allowed access with dogs being trained to the public places blind and disabled people frequent with guide and service dogs.  The proposed study can be done easily and with little expense.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Representative Christopher Vance, original prime sponsor