House Bill No. 184

Introduced By _______________________________________________________________________________

A Bill for an Act entitled: "An Act generally revising the laws relating to guide or hearing dogs; defining the term "service dog"; allowing a physically disabled person to be accompanied by a service dog in a public place; allowing a service dog in training in a public place; allowing full access to housing accommodations to a person training a service dog; and amending sections 49-4-203 and

49-4-214, MCA."

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Montana:

Section 1.  Section 49-4-203, MCA, is amended to read:

"49-4-203.   Definition Definitions. (1) "Housing accommodation" means any real property or portion thereof which of real property that is used or occupied or is intended, arranged, or designed to be used or occupied as the home, residence, or sleeping place of one or more human beings but. The term does not include any single-family residence the occupants of which furnish for compensation not more than one room therein within the residence.

(2) "Service dog" means a dog individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a physical disability, including total or partial blindness or deafness."

Section 2.  Section 49-4-214, MCA, is amended to read:

"49-4-214.   Right to be accompanied by a guide or hearing service dog. (1) Every A totally or partially blind or deaf physically disabled person has the right to be accompanied by a guide or hearing service dog, especially trained for the purpose, or a service dog in training in any of the places mentioned in 49-4-211(2) without being charged extra for the guide or hearing service dog. He The physically disabled person is liable for any damage done to the premises or facilities by such the dog.

(2)  Every A totally or partially blind or deaf physically disabled person who has a guide or hearing service dog or who obtains a guide or hearing service dog is entitled to full and equal access to all housing accommodations as provided in 49-2-305 and 49-4-212. He The physically disabled person may not be required to pay extra compensation for the guide or hearing service dog but is liable for any damage done to the premises by the guide or hearing service dog.

(3) A person who is training a service dog is entitled to the same rights granted to a physically disabled person in this section."

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