The proposed bill, if enacted, would amend the Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act by adding a new section that outlines the procedures and requirements for tenants requesting accommodations related to assistance animals. Under the new provisions, landlords would be permitted to require reliable documentation of a tenant's disability and the need for an assistance animal, but only if the disability is not readily apparent. Additionally, landlords could request that tenants submit information on a standardized form and could require documentation for each additional assistance animal. The bill also specifies the conditions under which a landlord may deny or rescind an accommodation, including undue financial burden or direct threats posed by the animal.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies that landlords would not be liable for injuries caused by assistance animals allowed as reasonable accommodations on their property. It defines key terms such as "assistance animal," "disability," and "reasonable accommodation," ensuring that emotional support animals are included under the definition of assistance animals if they qualify as reasonable accommodations. Overall, the bill aims to provide clearer guidelines for both landlords and tenants regarding the treatment of assistance animals in rental housing.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 33-1320