FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1491

                         C 271 L 97

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Changing references from guide or service dog to dog guide or service animal.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Children & Family Services (originally sponsored by  Representatives Cody, Cooke, Tokuda, Dyer, Murray, Ogden and Costa).

House Committee on Children & Family Services

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections

Background:  Washington has provided protection and regulation of guide and service dogs under the "White Cane Law" since 1969.  The White Cane Law provides totally or partially blind, hearing impaired, or otherwise physically disabled people the right to be accompanied by a guide or service dog into any public place without being required to pay an extra charge.  It is illegal to deny or interfere with admittance to, or enjoyment of, any public facility by a person with an enumerated handicapping condition.

In 1990, the U.S. Congress enacted the American with Disabilities Act that specifies certain rights for persons with disabilities.

Summary:  References to Aguide and service dogs@ are changed to as Adog guides@ and Aservice animals.@  The definition of Aservice animals@ is expanded to include animals assisting sensory and mentally disabled persons.  Enforcement of the access requirements for people with dog guides or service animals will be assumed by the Human Rights Commission.  References to Adogs in training@ are removed from the definitions of dog guide and service animal.  The statute prohibiting discrimination against disabled drivers at service stations is transferred from the White Cane Law to the Law Against Discrimination.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  95 0

Senate 46 0 (Senate amended)

House  92 0 (House concurred)

Effective:July 27,  1997