MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Welfare

By: Representative Horne

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 43-6-155, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THE SAME RIGHTS OF PUBLIC ACCESS TO TRAINERS OF SUPPORT DOGS AS THOSE PROVIDED TO DISABLED PERSONS WITH SUPPORT DOGS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 43-6-155, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

43-6-155. (1) Any blind person, mobility impaired person or hearing impaired person who uses a dog specifically trained as a guide, leader, listener or for any other assistance necessary to assist such blind, mobility impaired or hearing impaired person in day-to-day activities shall be entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of all public conveyances, hotels, lodging places, businesses open to the public for the sale of any goods or services and all places of public accommodation, amusement, or resort and other places to which the general public is invited, and may take such dog into such conveyances and places, subject only to the conditions and limitations applicable to all persons not so accompanied, except that:

(a) The dog shall not occupy a seat in any public conveyance.

(b) The dog shall be upon a leash while using the facilities of a common carrier.

(2) Trainers of support dogs shall have the same rights of accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges with support dogs-in-training as those provided to blind, mobility impaired and hearing impaired persons with support dogs under this section.

(3) No person shall deprive a blind, mobility impaired, or hearing impaired person, or a support dog trainer of any of the advantages, facilities or privileges provided in this section, nor charge such blind, mobility impaired or hearing impaired person or support dog trainer a fee or charge for the use of the dog.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.