EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL; REGULATE S.B. 663:
SUMMARY OF BILL
REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 663 (as reported without amendment)
Sponsor: Senator Peter MacGregor
CONTENT
The bill would amend Public Act 82 of 1981, which prohibits a person from representing that he or she is in possession of a service animal, unless the person has a disability, to do the following:
-- Prohibit a person who certified the need for a person with a disability to possess an emotional support animal or a service animal from falsely representing that need and satisfy certain criteria for certification.
-- Require a landlord to evict a tenant who knowingly violated the Act.
-- Require the Department of Civil Rights to use the existing telephone complaint line to receive reports of a person falsely representing that he or she was in possession of an emotional support animal, or of a health care provider who was falsely certifying the need for an emotional support animal or service animal.
-- Define "emotional support animal" and "health care provider".
MCL 752.61 et al. Legislative Analyst: Drew Krogulecki
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on the State and could have a negative fiscal impact on local government. To the extent that changes in the bill lead to increased misdemeanor arrests and prosecutions, it could increase resource demands on law enforcement, court systems, and jails. Any increased civil infraction and penal fine revenue would be dedicated to public libraries.
Date Completed: 12-13-18 Fiscal Analyst: Abbey Fraizer
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.