PRINTER'S NO. 3332
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2419
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY O'NEAL, GUENST, HILL-EVANS, M. JONES, STEHR,
CIRESI, ZIMMERMAN, SOLOMON AND ROWE, JUNE 13, 2024
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JUNE 13, 2024
AN ACT
Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in trade and commerce, providing for
the offense of fraudulent misrepresentation of a service
animal.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 7325.1. Fraudulent misrepresentation of a service animal.
(a) Offense defined.--A person is guilty of a summary
offense if the person fraudulently misrepresents an animal as a
service animal with the intention of bringing the animal into a
place of public accommodation or obtaining other benefits.
(b) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Service animal." A dog that is individually trained to
perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a
disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric,
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intellectual or other mental disability. For the purposes of
this definition:
(1) The performance of tasks by the dog must be directly
related to the disability of the individual.
(2) Examples of the performance of tasks by the dog
include:
(i) Assisting an individual who is blind, is
visually impaired or has low vision with navigation and
other tasks.
(ii) Alerting an individual who is deaf, hearing
impaired or hard of hearing to the presence of
individuals or sounds.
(iii) Providing nonviolent protection or rescue
work.
(iv) Pulling a wheelchair.
(v) Assisting an individual during a seizure.
(vi) Alerting an individual to the presence of
allergens.
(vii) Retrieving items such as medicine or a
telephone.
(viii) Providing physical support and assistance
with balance and stability to an individual with a
mobility disability.
(ix) Helping an individual with a psychiatric or
neurological disability by preventing or interrupting
impulsive or destructive behaviors.
(3) The following do not, on their own, constitute the
performance of tasks by the dog:
(i) The crime deterrent effects as a result of the
presence of the dog.
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(ii) The emotional support, well-being, comfort or
companionship provided by the dog.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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