The bill aims to enhance the protection and rights of blind and disabled persons by expanding the definitions and legal protections surrounding service and assistance animals. It specifies that the rights and obligations applicable to these animals also extend to those that are in training. The definitions of "assistance animal" and "service animal" are amended to explicitly include animals that are being trained to perform tasks or provide emotional support for individuals with disabilities.

Additionally, the bill increases the penalties for injuring or killing a service or assistance animal. The punishment for such offenses is raised from a maximum of six months imprisonment and a fine of $750 to a minimum of one year imprisonment and a fine of up to $5,000. This legislation is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 35-13-205, 35-13-206