H-4145.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 2515
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State of Washington 54th Legislature 1996 Regular Session
By Representatives Cody, Pennington, Cooke, Veloria, Buck, Tokuda, Hymes, Brown, Murray, Conway and Mitchell
Read first time 01/12/96. Referred to Committee on Children & Family Services.
AN ACT Relating to guide and service dogs; amending RCW 70.84.020, 70.84.021, and 70.84.030; and adding new sections to chapter 70.84 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 70.84.020 and 1980 c 109 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
For
the purpose of this chapter, the term "guide dog" or "guide
dog trainee" shall mean (1) a dog which is in working harness
and is trained or approved by an accredited school engaged in training dogs for
the purpose of guiding blind persons ((or)); (2) a dog which is
trained or approved by an accredited school engaged in training dogs for the
purpose of assisting hearing impaired persons; or (3) a dog undergoing
training to assist a hearing impaired person.
Sec. 2. RCW 70.84.021 and 1985 c 90 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
For the purpose of this chapter, "service dog" or "service dog trainee" means (1) a dog that is trained or approved by an accredited school, or state institution of higher education, engaged in training dogs for the purposes of assisting or accommodating a physically disabled person related to the person's physical disability; or (2) a dog undergoing training to assist a physically disabled person.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 70.84 RCW to read as follows:
A guide dog trainee or service dog trainee that is trained by a nonaccredited individual or organization must be approved as provided in RCW 70.84.020 and 70.84.021.
Sec. 4. RCW 70.84.030 and 1985 c 90 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
Every totally or partially blind, hearing impaired, or otherwise physically disabled person and every guide dog trainee or service dog trainee shall have the right to be accompanied by a guide dog or service dog or guide dog trainee or service dog trainee in any of the places listed in RCW 70.84.010(3) without being required to pay an extra charge for the guide dog or service dog. It shall be unlawful to refuse service to a blind, hearing impaired, or otherwise physically disabled person or trainer in any such place solely because the person is accompanied by a guide dog or service dog.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 70.84 RCW to read as follows:
The department of health shall establish rules to:
(1) Accredit schools engaged in training or approving dogs under this chapter; and
(2) Develop a uniform identification collar or tag for dogs regulated under this chapter.
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