House Bill No. 184
Introduced By Peck, Gillan, Masolo, Rose, Wyatt
A Bill for an Act entitled: An Act generally revising the laws relating to guide or hearing dogs; defining the term "service animal"; allowing a person with a disability to be accompanied by a service animal in a public place; allowing a service animal in training in a public place; allowing full access to housing accommodations to a person training a service animal; 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 animal" means a dog or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability."
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 animal -- identification for service animals in
training. (1) Every A totally or partially blind or deaf person with a disability has the right to be accompanied by a guide or
hearing service dog animal, especially trained for the purpose, or a service animal in training with identification complying
with subsection (4) in any of the places mentioned in 49-4-211(2) without being charged extra for the guide or hearing
service dog animal. He The person with a disability is liable for any damage done to the premises or facilities property by
such the dog animal.
(2) Every A totally or partially blind or deaf person with a disability who has a guide or hearing service dog animal or who
obtains a guide or hearing service dog animal is entitled to full and equal access to all housing accommodations as provided
in 49-2-305 and 49-4-212. He The person with a disability may not be required to pay extra compensation for the guide or
hearing service dog animal but is liable for any damage done to the premises by the guide or hearing service dog animal.
(3) A person who is training a service animal is entitled to the same rights and assumes the same responsibilities granted to a person with a disability in this section.
(4) For the purposes of this section, a service animal in training that is a dog shall wear a leash, collar, cape, harness, or backpack that identifies in writing that the dog is a service animal in training. Other service animals in training must also be identifiable by written identification as a service animal in training. The written identification for service animals in training must be visible and legible from a distance of at least 20 feet."
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