D.C. Law Library

D.C. Law 23-208. Service Animal in Training Clarification Amendment Act of 2020.

AN ACT

To amend An Act To enable the blind and the otherwise physically disabled to participate fully in the social and economic life of the District of Columbia to clarify that the owner of a service animal in training may serve as the accompanied trainer of that animal.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Service Animal in Training Clarification Amendment Act of 2020".

Sec. 2. An Act To enable the blind and the otherwise physically disabled to participate fully in the social and economic life of the District of Columbia, approved October 21, 1972 (86 Stat. 970; D.C. Official Code § 7-1001 et seq.), is amended as follows:

(a) Section 2(c) (D.C. Official Code § 7-1002(c)) is amended to read as follows:

"(c) Every service animal trainer who is training an animal to be a service animal or owner of a service animal in training shall have the same access and liability conferred upon a person with physical or mental disabilities pursuant to subsection (b) of this section when accompanied by the service animal in training.".

(b) Section 8(6)(C) (D.C. Official Code § 7-1009(6)(C)) is amended by striking the phrase "animal trainer; and" and inserting the phrase "animal trainer or the animal's owner; and" in its place.

Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement.

The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal

impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).

Sec. 4. Effective date.

This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the

Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(l) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(l)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.

Law Information

Cites

  • D.C. Law 23-208 (PDF)
  • D.C. Act 23-562 (PDF)
  • 68 DCR 000780

Effective

Mar. 16, 2021

Legislative History (LIMS)

Law 23-208, the “Service Animal in Training Clarification Amendment Act of 2020,” was introduced in the Council and assigned Bill No. 23-487 which was referred to the Judiciary and Public Safety. The bill was adopted on first and second readings on Dec. 1, 2020, and Dec. 15, 2020, respectively. After mayoral review, it was assigned Act No. 23-562 on Jan. 11, 2021, and transmitted to Congress for its review. D.C. Law 23-208 became effective Mar. 16, 2021.