HB 2324 -- Access to Service Dogs in Educational Institutions

Sponsor:  Newman

This bill prohibits any public or private educational institution
from discriminating against an individual with a service dog or a
service dog team because a disabled individual has a service dog
or team.  Any individual with a service dog or team must have
continued access to his or her service dog at all public and
private educational institutions in this state including the
service dog and the adult trained to handle the dog who is a
member of the individual's service dog team regardless of the
presence or absence of the disabled individual.

No educational institution can refuse to make reasonable
accommodations in rules, practices, or services when the
accommodation may be necessary to afford an individual with a
service dog or team equal opportunity to use and enjoy the
educational institution.

An educational institution may require proof that an individual
has a disability or physical or mental impairment, that an adult
is trained to handle a service dog, and that a dog is trained or
is being trained as a service dog.  However, the institution
cannot ask the nature of the disability or impairment but only
whether or not the individual is impaired or the adult is trained
in handling service dogs.

Any rules of an educational institution that limit or restrict a
dog's size or access to areas of the institution available to
persons without disabilities cannot apply to service dogs.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:13 pm