S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8926
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              January 8, 2018
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. TITONE -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Agriculture
 
 AN  ACT to amend a chapter of the laws of 2017, amending the agriculture
   and markets law relating to examining the need for standards  for  the
   designation  of  therapy dogs and the definition and identification of
   therapy dogs, in relation to examining the need for standards for  the
   designation of therapy dogs
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 1 of a chapter of the laws of  2017,  amending  the
 agriculture and markets law relating to examining the need for standards
 for  the  designation of therapy dogs and the definition and identifica-
 tion of therapy dogs, as proposed in legislative bills numbers  S.  6565
 and A. 6801-A, is amended to read as follows:
   Section 1. The commissioner of agriculture and markets shall CONVENE A
 WORKING  GROUP  TO  examine the need for statewide standards for therapy
 dogs, as such term is defined in subdivision 26 of section 108 of  arti-
 cle 7 of the agriculture and markets law, including, but not limited to,
 training, evaluation and certification procedures for the designation of
 a  dog as a "therapy dog" and the need for identification, education and
 information for the public about such dogs, the rights and  responsibil-
 ities  of  such  dog  owners,  the  use of such dogs in institutions and
 facilities and the distinction between such dogs  and  service  dogs  or
 animals  and  other  similar  dogs  or animals such as emotional support
 animals. The  [commissioner]  WORKING  GROUP  shall  [consult  with  the
 commissioners]  INCLUDE  REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUL-
 TURE AND MARKETS, THE DEPARTMENT of health [and], THE OFFICE  OF  MENTAL
 HEALTH, THE DIVISION OF human rights [and], THE OFFICE OF ALCOHOLISM AND
 SUBSTANCE  ABUSE  SERVICES,  THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES,
 THE OFFICE FOR THE AGING, THE DIVISION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS AND RELEVANT
 STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, representatives of  the  dog
 training industry, the disability community, animal protection organiza-
 tions,  the  business  community,  local  government  officials, and THE
 MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITY AND PROFESSIONALS, AMONG others  [in

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
              

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10693-07-8

 A. 8926                             2

 reviewing the need for the establishment of such state standards and any
 other  recommendations  related  to  the  commissioner's  findings]. The
 [commissioner] WORKING GROUP shall report to the governor, the temporary
 president  of  the  senate and the speaker of the assembly no later than
 October 1, 2018 on the [commissioner's] findings regarding the need  for
 standards and public information regarding therapy dogs.
   §  2.  This  act  shall  take  effect on the same date and in the same
 manner as a chapter of the laws of 2017, amending  the  agriculture  and
 markets  law relating to examining the need for standards for the desig-
 nation of therapy dogs and the definition and identification of  therapy
 dogs,  as  proposed  in legislative bills numbers S. 6565 and A. 6801-A,
 takes effect.