Service dog; definition. (SB177)

Introduced By

Sen. Bryce Reeves (R-Spotsylvania) with support from co-patron Sen. Jeff McWaters (R-Virginia Beach)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Definition of "service dog." Expands the definition of "service dog" to include dogs trained to assist persons suffering from a physical, sensory, intellectual, developmental, or mental disability or mental illness. The current definition is limited to dogs assisting a mobility-impaired person. The definition affects the rights of persons with disabilities who use trained service dogs with regard to dog license taxes, public accommodations, and housing. The bill contains technical amendments. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Passed

History

DateAction
01/02/2014Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/14 14100485D
01/02/2014Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
01/09/2014Rereferred from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (14-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/09/2014Rereferred to Rehabilitation and Social Services
01/24/2014Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services (12-Y 0-N)
01/27/2014Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N)
01/28/2014Passed by for the day
01/29/2014Read second time and engrossed
01/30/2014Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)
02/07/2014Placed on Calendar
02/07/2014Read first time
02/07/2014Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
02/19/2014Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (21-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/20/2014Read second time
02/21/2014Read third time
02/21/2014Passed House BLOCK VOTE (97-Y 0-N)
02/21/2014VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (97-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/21/2014Reconsideration of House passage agreed to by House
02/21/2014Passed House BLOCK VOTE (98-Y 0-N)
02/21/2014VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE #2 (98-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/25/2014Enrolled
02/25/2014Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB177ER)
02/25/2014Signed by Speaker
02/27/2014Signed by President
04/04/2014G Approved by Governor-Chapter 616 (effective 7/1/14)
04/04/2014G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0616)

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 1 clip in all, totaling 31 seconds.

Comments

diann drew writes:

would ask on behalf of all of us who have service dogs to include in this bill that it is illegal in our state with the hope that it will carry over to other states that those who use illegal service dog equipment be fined and punished in some way to help stop buying service dog equipment on line in order to obtain public access with a dog who is not trained to do service dog work
this practice is being done more and more and in some cases even causes a danger to ourselves as well as our dogs not to mention the public at large