The bill amends Section 34-37-4 of the Rhode Island Fair Housing Practices Act to enhance protections for tenants with disabilities regarding emotional support animals. It allows tenants with a disability or disability-related need for an emotional support animal to request and be approved by a landlord to keep such an animal as a reasonable accommodation in housing. The bill defines an emotional support animal as a dog or cat that provides emotional, cognitive, or similar support to an individual with a disability and clarifies that these animals do not need to be trained or certified.

Landlords may request supporting documentation if a tenant's need for an emotional support animal is not readily apparent. This documentation must come from a Rhode Island licensed healthcare practitioner who has established a patient-practitioner relationship with the tenant for at least thirty days and has provided a clinical evaluation regarding the need for the emotional support animal.

The bill also stipulates that landlords may deny requests for emotional support animals if the animal poses a direct threat to the safety or health of others, poses a direct threat of physical damage to property, or if allowing the animal would result in the cancellation of property insurance or a substantial increase in insurance premiums. Tenants are liable for any damage caused by their emotional support animals.

Additionally, the bill maintains existing laws regarding accessibility for persons with disabilities and specifies that landlords are not required to rent to individuals whose tenancy poses a direct threat to others or would cause substantial property damage. It prohibits unlawful housing practices, including discrimination against individuals who oppose such practices or participate in related investigations, while affirming landlords' rights to pursue eviction actions against non-compliant tenants. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
553: 34-37-4