BILL NUMBER: S9086
SPONSOR: PALUMBO
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the civil rights law, the real property law and the
public housing law, in relation to service animals and emotional support
animals
 
PURPOSE:
Updates the legal framework for assistance animals, setting strict stan-
dards for housing verification and public access enforcement.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Heading of article 4-B of the civil rights law is amended to
read as follows:
RIGHTS OF PERSON WITH A (DISABILITY ACCOMPANIED BY GUIDE DOGS, HEARING
DOGS OR SERVICE DOGS) SERVICE ANIMAL OR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL
Subsection 2. Section 47-b of the civil rights law is amended by adding
two new subdivisions 8 and 9 which define 'service animal" and
"emotional support animal"
Subsection 3. The real property is amended by adding a new section 227-g
which outlines the housing accommodations for service and emotional
support animals by defining `disability', 'qualified practitioner, qual-
ified practitioner rights and landlords' requirements and rights.
The commissioner of housing and community renewal shall determine what
qualifies as reasonable accommodations pursuant to subdivision two of
this section.
Subsection 4. Section 223-b of the public housing law is amended to
include the 4 new definitions as it relates to discrimination against a
person (who is deaf or hard of hearing who has a hearing do) as outlined
in the amendments to the real property law.
Subsections 5 and 6. Section 47 of the civil rights law is amended by
adding a new subdivision 3 which states that the provisions outlined in
section 47-a (employment) do not apply to emotional support animals
Subsection 7. Section 47-c of the civil rights law is amended by adding
a new subdivision 3 which outlines the penalties if intentional misrep-
resentation of an animal as service or emotional support.
Subsection 8. Sets forth the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Eliminating the abuse of support animal regulations is vital because
fraudulent claims harm the people who truly depend on these animals for
survival. They enable people with disabilities to live more independent-
ly and safely providing essential physical help like guiding the blind
and psychological support, such as calming anxiety or alerting handlers
to medical issues, improving overall quality of life and social partic-
ipation.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the State
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shalt have
become a law.

Statutes affected:
S9086: 47-b civil rights law, 223-b public housing law, 47 civil rights law, 47-a civil rights law, 47-c civil rights law