The Texas House Human Services Committee is scheduled to consider House Bill 2992 on Monday, April 17, 2017. The bill seeks to create a misdemeanor—punishable by a fine of up to $300 and 30 hours of community service—for those found to have misrepresented an animal as a service/assistance animal by fitting it with a harness, collar, vest, sign, tag, or leash of the type commonly used by those with disabilities so the person can gain access, permission, or benefits provided to persons with disabilities.
AKC’s Board-approved Canine Legislation Position Statement on the Misuse of Service Dogs reads:
Service dogs are defined as those that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. The AKC strongly supports public accommodations that allow individuals with disabilities to use service dogs.
The AKC strongly condemns characterizing dogs as service animals when they are not, or attempting to benefit from a dog’s service dog status when the individual using the dog is not a person with a disability.
Because HB 2992 is in line with the Misuse of Service Dogs position statement, AKC supports HB 2992.
Read Misuse of Service Dogs Hurts the Disabled and Responsible Dog Owners for information on why misrepresenting a dog as a service animal is damaging to many.
HB 2992 will be heard by the House Human Services Committee on Monday, April 17, at 9AM in Room E2.030 of the State Capitol in Austin.
Texas residents are encouraged to contact the members of the committee and ask them to support House Bill 2992.
Representative Richard Peña Raymond, Chair
Phone: (512) 463-0558
Email form: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/email/?district=42&session=85
Representative James Frank, Vice Chair
Phone: (512) 463-0534
Email form: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/email/?district=69&session=85
Representative Mark Keough
Phone: (512) 463-0797
Email form: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/email/?district=15&session=85
Representative Stephanie Klick
Phone: (512) 463-0599
Email form: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/email/?district=91&session=85
Representative Rick Miller
Phone: (512) 463-0710
Email form: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/email/?district=26&session=85
Representative Ina Minjarez
Phone: (512) 463-0634
Email form: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/email/?district=124&session=85
Representative Toni Rose
Phone: (512) 463-0664
Email form: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/email/?district=110&session=85
Representative Valoree Swanson
Phone: (512) 463-0572
Email form: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/email/?district=150&session=85
Representative Gene Wu
Phone: (512) 463-0492
Email form: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/email/?district=137&session=85
For more information on HB 2992 or other Texas legislation, contact AKC’s Government Relations Department at doglaw@akc.org.