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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to service animals; amending s. 413.08,

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F.S.; expanding the definition of "service animal" to

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include any animal that is trained, in the process of

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being trained, or being raised for the purpose of being

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trained at a future date to perform tasks for an

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individual with a disability; providing that any person

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who is training or raising an animal for the purpose of

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future training as a service animal has the same rights

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and privileges with respect to access to public facilities

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and the same liability for damage as is provided for

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persons accompanied by service animals; providing that

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such rights and privileges extend to a volunteer who

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raises puppies for the purpose of future training as

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service animals if certain conditions are met; providing

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an effective date.

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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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     Section 1.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) and subsection

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(8) of section 413.08, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

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     413.08  Rights of an individual with a disability; use of a

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service animal; discrimination in public employment or housing

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accommodations; penalties.--

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     (1)  As used in this section and s. 413.081, the term:

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     (d) "Service animal" means any an animal that is trained,

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in the process of being trained, or being raised for the purpose

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of being trained at a future date to perform tasks for an

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individual with a disability. The tasks may include, but are not

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limited to, guiding a person who is visually impaired or blind,

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alerting a person who is deaf or hard of hearing, pulling a

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wheelchair, assisting with mobility or balance, alerting and

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protecting a person who is having a seizure, retrieving objects,

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or performing other special tasks. A service animal is not a pet.

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     (8)(a) Any trainer of a service animal, while engaged in

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the training of such an animal, including any person who is

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raising an animal for the purpose of future training as a service

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animal, has the same rights and privileges with respect to access

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to public facilities and the same liability for damage as is

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provided for those persons described in subsection (3)

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accompanied by service animals.

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     (b) Any volunteer who raises puppies for the purpose of

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future training as service animals has the same rights and

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privileges with respect to access to public facilities and the

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same liability for damage as is provided for those persons

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accompanied by service animals as described in subsection (3) if:

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     1. Such animal is held on a leash or is otherwise

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restrained and remains under the control of the volunteer

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training or raising such animal;

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     2. The volunteer training or raising such animal has on his

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or her person, and available for inspection, credentials from the

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accredited school for which the animal is being raised; and

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     3. Such animal is wearing a collar, leash, or other

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appropriate apparel or device identifying that animal with the

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accredited school for which it is being raised.

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     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.