Signed by Governor Rick Perry

Highlights:

• Rep. William A. Callegari is not listed on the vote breakdown because his vote does not accurately reflect his intention; he initially voted 'Yea' and changed his vote to 'Nay' after the roll call.

• Rep. Brandon Creighton is not listed on the vote breakdown because his vote does not accurately reflect his intention; he initially voted 'Yea' and changed his vote to 'Nay' after the roll call.

• Rep. Drew Springer voted "Nay" after the roll call.

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that expands access to service dogs for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, effective January 1, 2014.

Highlights:

• Expands the definition of “person with a disability” to include a disabled veteran who has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits a public facility from denying entry to a service animal that is accompanied by an individual with a disability or by a trainer (Sec. 1).

• Limits the questions an employee of a public facility is authorized to ask an individual with disabilities that are not “readily apparent” about the service animal to the following questions (Secs. 1 & 3):
• Whether the service animal is required because the individual has a disability; and
• What type of work the service animal is trained to perform.

• Defines “service animal” as a canine that is specially trained or equipped to help an individual with a disability including, but not limited to, performing the following tasks (Sec. 2):
• The canine guides an individual who has a visual impairment;
• The canine pulls a wheelchair;
• The canine reminds an individual who has a mental illness to take prescribed medication; and
• The canine calms a disabled veteran who has PTSD.

• Prohibits an employee of a public facility from making demands or inquiries regarding the qualifications or certifications of a service animal (Sec. 3).

• Classifies a violation of this bill as a misdemeanor with a fine of no more than $300 and 30 hours of community service with an organization that primarily serves individuals with disabilities, whereas existing law requires a fine of at least $300 and no more than $1,000 (Sec. 4).

• Rep. Patricia Harless voted “Nay” after roll call.

• Rep. James L. Keffer voted “Yea’ after roll call.

• Rep. Phil King is not on our vote breakdown because his vote did not accurately reflect his intentions; he initially voted “Yea” but changed his vote to “Nay” after roll call.

• Rep. George Lavender is not on our vote breakdown because his vote did not accurately reflect his intentions; he initially voted “Yea” but changed his vote to “Nay” after roll call.

Full Bill Text