HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3044 FILED ON: 2/18/2021
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Kimberly N. Ferguson
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to a commission to study the intentional misrepresentation of a service animal.
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PETITION OF:
NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: DATE ADDED:
Kimberly N. Ferguson 1st Worcester 2/17/2021
James M. Murphy 4th Norfolk 2/18/2021
Joseph D. McKenna 18th Worcester 2/18/2021
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 HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3044 FILED ON: 2/18/2021
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No.
[Pin Slip]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)
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An Act relative to a commission to study the intentional misrepresentation of a service animal.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. (a) There shall be a special commission established pursuant to section 2A
2 of chapter 4 of the General Laws to study the use of service animals in the Commonwealth. The
3 commission shall consist of 15 members: 2 of whom shall be the house and senate chairs of the
4 joint committee on the judiciary or their designees, who shall serve as co-chairs; 1 of whom shall
5 be a member of the house of representative to be appointed by the speaker of the house; 1 of
6 whom shall be a member of the house of representatives to be appointed by the house minority
7 leader; 1 of whom shall be a member of the senate to be appointed by the senate president; 1 of
8 whom shall be a member of the senate to be appointed by the senate minority leader; 1 of whom
9 shall be the attorney general or the attorney general’s designee; 1 of whom shall be the executive
10 director of the Massachusetts Office of Disability or the executive director’s designee; 1 of
11 whom shall be the chair of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination or the chair’s
12 designee; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the President of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police
13 Association; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the Commissioner of the Municipal Police
14 Training Committee; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the executive director of the Mental
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15 Health Legal Advisors Committee; and 3 members who shall be appointed by the governor, 1 of
16 whom shall be a representative of a professional organization specializing in the advocacy,
17 education, and/or training of service animals, 1 of whom shall be a representative of a
18 professional organization specializing in the advocacy, education, and/or training of other
19 animals, including emotional support, companion, or comfort animals, and 1 of whom shall be a
20 member of an association advocating for the interests of restaurant owners and/or retailers in the
21 Commonwealth.
22 (b) The study shall include, but not be limited to: (i) reviewing current federal,
23 state, and local laws and procedures governing the use of service animals in the Commonwealth;
24 (ii) examining the use and benefit of service animals by individuals with disabilities in the
25 Commonwealth; (iii) investigating the presence, prevalence, and impact of fraud,
26 misrepresentation, and other misuse of service animals in the Commonwealth; (iv) researching
27 laws and practices in other jurisdictions with the objective to deter the misuse of service animals;
28 (v) identifying training and educational opportunities aimed at increasing understanding of laws
29 governing the use of service animals amongst public officials, law enforcement, business
30 owners, and members of the public in the Commonwealth; (vi) recommending changes to
31 Massachusetts law governing service animals if any, including the definition of “service animal”
32 and whether to introduce legislation prohibiting and civilly penalizing service animal fraud; and
33 (vii) determining feasibility of certification, registration, or licensing of service animals in the
34 Commonwealth.
35 (c) The commission shall file findings of its study by December 31, 2022, with the clerks
36 of the house and the senate, who shall forward a copy of the report to the chairs of the house and
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37 senate committees on ways and means and the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on
38 the judiciary.
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