Service dog provisions modified in housing accommodations for persons with disabilities.
Summary
HF688 modifies Minnesota’s housing accommodation law for people with disabilities to expressly cover service dogs in training. The bill defines a “service dog in training” as a dog actively being trained under the supervision of an organization accredited by Assistance Dogs International or the International Guide Dog Federation. It then grants a person actively training such a dog full and equal access to housing accommodations covered by the statute.
Under the bill, a person training a service dog in training may not be charged extra compensation for the animal, though they remain liable for any damage the dog causes to the premises. The bill also allows a landlord or homeowners association board to require written certification from the supervising training organization before granting the accommodation, and the accommodation ends when training is completed.
Impact
The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 256C.025 by adding a new subdivision and expanding the scope of housing accommodation rights related to service animals. It affects landlords, housing providers, and homeowners associations by requiring them to treat qualifying service dogs in training similarly to service dogs for purposes of access and fees, while preserving their ability to seek reimbursement for damage and request certification. The measure strengthens housing protections for disability-related service dog training and clarifies the conditions under which those protections apply.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests broad bipartisan support for the bill. It passed the House by a wide margin, 114-15, and the Senate by an even larger margin, 59-2. No committee transcript is available, but the strong vote totals indicate the proposal was generally viewed favorably and as a practical clarification of housing rights for people with disabilities.
Contention
The main policy balance in the bill is between expanding access for people training service dogs and preserving landlord and homeowners association interests. Supporters appear to favor the bill as a disability-access measure that removes barriers for service dog trainers in housing. Any concerns are likely to center on verification, potential property damage, and the limits of the accommodation, which the bill addresses by allowing certification requirements, limiting the protection to active training under accredited supervision, and making the trainer responsible for damages.
Protects the rights of persons with disabilities to be accompanied by a guide dog or service dog in a place of public accommodation or housing accommodation; imposes a misdemeanor penalty for violations; requires the division of human rights to conduct a public awareness and education campaign.