Bill Text - HB440 (2005)

Relative to hearing ear dogs, guide dogs, and service dogs.


Revision: Jan. 21, 2010, midnight

CHAPTER 142

HB 440 – FINAL VERSION

30Mar2005… 0645h

04/28/05 1209s

04/28/05 1253s

04/28/05 1289s

2005 SESSION

05-0568

01/09

HOUSE BILL 440

AN ACT relative to hearing ear dogs, guide dogs, and service dogs.

SPONSORS: Rep. Parkhurst, Ches 4; Rep. Solomon, Graf 10; Rep. Merrow, Carr 3; Rep. D. Eaton, Ches 2

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill clarifies the penalty for interference with a service dog and for mistreating such dogs.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

30Mar2005… 0645h

04/28/05 1209s

04/28/05 1253s

04/28/05 1289s

05-0568

01/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Five

AN ACT relative to hearing ear dogs, guide dogs, and service dogs.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

142:1 Statement of Purpose. The general court recognizes the importance of trained service dogs to the persons who need such animals. The general court hereby establishes this act in honor of “Fen” who was attacked by another dog and so traumatized that “Fen” could no longer perform service duties and had to be retired from service.

142:2 New Paragraph; Prohibited Acts. Amend RSA 167-D:7 by inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraph:

III. It is unlawful for any person to willfully interfere or attempt to interfere with a service dog, as defined in RSA 167-D:1, IX.

142:3 Penalty. Amend RSA 167-D:9 to read as follows:

167-D:9 Penalty.

I. Any person violating any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

II. Any person who purposely tortures, beats, kicks, strikes, mutilates, injures, or disables a service dog, or who purposely causes the death of a service dog shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.

142:4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

(Approved: June 17, 2005)

(Effective Date: June 17, 2005)