Revision: Feb. 23, 2012, midnight
HB 1362 – AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
22Feb2012… 0490h
2012 SESSION
08/01
HOUSE BILL 1362
AN ACT exempting service animals from dog registration and licensing and establishing an option for permanent registration and licensing of service animals.
SPONSORS: Rep. Schlachman, Rock 13; Rep. Copeland, Rock 13
COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration
This bill:
I. Allows for the exemption of service animals from the fee for licensing and registration of dogs.
II. Allows the owner of a service animal to opt for a one-time licensing and registration of his or her service animal.
III. Requires the Governor’s Commission on Disability with overseeing the permanent registration and licensing for service animals.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
22Feb2012… 0490h
12-2197
08/01
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twelve
AN ACT exempting service animals from dog registration and licensing and establishing an option for permanent registration and licensing of service animals.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Service Animals; Exemption from Dog Registration and Licensing. RSA 466:8 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
466:8 Exemption From Fees for Registration and Licensing.
I. No fee shall be required for the registration and licensing of a dog which has served with armed forces of the United States and has received an honorable discharge therefrom.
II. No fee shall be required for the registration and licensing of a service animal as defined in RSA 167-D:1, IV. When registering and applying for a license for a service animal, the owner or trainer shall present an identification card issued by a recognized animal training agency. If a service animal has been trained by its owner and does not have an identification card issued by a recognized animal training agency or school, in order to register and license a service animal, the animal shall pass the Assistance Dogs International Public Access Test administered by a service animal trainer, as defined in RSA 167-D:1, V, and the owner shall present a letter from a health care professional stating that the individual requires the use of a service animal to perform tasks directly related to his or her disability.
III. The owner of a service animal may elect for the registration and licensing of such service animal to be permanent and not subject to annual renewal so long as the service animal has met the requirements of this section and has received a certificate and tag from the Governor’s Commission on Disability under paragraph IV.
IV. Certificates and tags stamped “New Hampshire Service Animal – Permanent Registration” with a registration number, shall be issued by the Governor’s Commission on Disability to those seeking permanent registration and licensing. Applications may be obtained from a town or municipality issuing agent under RSA 466:1-c upon initial registration and licensing of a service animal or directly from the Governor's Commission on Disability.
V. Upon the death or retirement of a service animal, the owner or person in possession of the service animal tag shall immediately return the tag to the Governor’s Commission on Disability.
VI. The tag identifying a service animal shall be used only by an eligible service animal, as defined in RSA 167-D:1, IV.
VII. The owners and trainers of service animals shall comply with all state and local ordinances regarding rabies certification under RSA 436:102 and RSA 466:1-a.
2 Nonuse of Hearing Ear Dog, Guide Dog, or Service Dog. Amend RSA 167-D:8, II to read as follows:
II. It is unlawful for any person to fit an animal with a collar, leash, or harness of the type which represents that the animal is a service animal, or service animal tag issued under RSA 466:8 if in fact said animal is not and to thus use the animal to misrepresent the physical status of said person.
3 New Paragraph; Service Animal Registration Tags; Governor's Commission on Disability. Amend RSA 275-C:6 by inserting after paragraph VI the following new paragraph:
VII. To design, produce, and issue special registration tags and certificates for permanent service animal registration and licensing.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.