Resolve, Establishing a Task Force To Ensure Integrity in the Use of Service Animals

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  this resolve establishes a task force to study training and certification requirements of service animals, methods of disseminating information about service animals to the public and documentation of training and certification of service animals; and

Whereas,  the business of the task force must be initiated before the 90-day period expires in order that it may be completed and a report submitted in time for submission to the next legislative session; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Task force to ensure integrity in the use of service animals. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall convene a task force of interested parties to study:

1. Training requirements for service animals;

2. Certifying organizations and existing certification requirements for service animals and development of new state-based certification requirements, if needed;

3. The necessity of educating the public about service animals and methods of disseminating information about service animals;

4. Documentation of training and certification of service animals and the development of additional documentation and proofs, if needed; and

5. Housing issues related to service animals; and be it further

Sec. 2. Task force membership. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall invite the following individuals to participate in the task force: 2 trainers of service or therapy animals, a restaurant owner or operator, a member of the business community, a member of the Maine Human Rights Commission or a designee selected by the commission, a member from the public education system, a member of the Maine Real Estate Managers Association, a representative of the Central Maine Apartment Owners Association or the Maine Apartment Owners and Managers Association, a resident of the State with physical disabilities, a resident of the State with nonphysical disabilities, an attorney who specializes in disability law with experience in both state and federal laws governing service animals and the state accessibility coordinator from the Department of Labor, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services; and be it further

Sec. 3. Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 2, 2015, the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall report the task force's recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. The Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry may submit a bill related to the subject matter of the report to the Second Regular Session of the 127th Legislature.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.