<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><base href="file:///C:\Program%20Files%20(x86)\Common%20Files\Microsoft%20Shared\Stationery\"><title id=ridTitle>Blank</title><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Helvetica;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Helvetica;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:#FFFFCC;
mso-believe-normal-left:yes;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><![if mso 9]><style>p.MsoNormal
{margin-left:18.75pt;}
</style><![endif]><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body bgcolor=white background="cid:005201d5aed4$d3e90060$1507a8c0@stevePc" lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='margin-left:18.75pt;margin-top:18.75pt' id=ridBody><img src="cid:005201d5aed4$d3e90060$1507a8c0@stevePc" v:src="cid:005201d5aed4$d3e90060$1507a8c0@stevePc" v:shapes="_x0000_Mail" width=0 height=0 class=shape style='display:none;width:0;height:0'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><b><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext'> msb-alumni-bounce@freelists.org [mailto:msb-alumni-bounce@freelists.org] <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Steve<br><b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Monday, 9 December, 2019 16:09<br><b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> msb-alumni@freelists.org<br><b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [msb-alumni] Bill cracks down on fake emotional support animals <o:p></o:p></span></font></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#ffffcc" face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Bill cracks down on fake emotional support animals By Kathleen Gray Detroit Free Press <o:p></o:p></span></font></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>LANSING -- People trying to pass off pets as emotional support animals in order to avoid fees charged by landlords could be guilty of a misdemeanor under a bill that unanimously passed the House Regulatory Reform Committee on Tuesday. Under the bill, both the person with the pet and any health care provider who provided a note without proof that the tenant had a disability that required an emotional support animal would be subject to the criminal charge, which would carry a sentence of 90 days in jail and a $500 fine. To validate an emotional support animal, the health care provider would have to be practicing in Michigan for at least 180 days and have an office located in the state. They also would have to provide a notarized letter saying they had been treating the pet owner for at least six months. If it were found that either the individual or health care provider had provided false information, the landlord could evict the tenant. "There should be rules in place to protect you from the person who just wants to have their pet in a place without paying the fee," said state Rep. Matt Hall, R-Emmett Township, the bill's sponsor. "We're trying to figure out some kind of standard, where a legitimate doctor who has a physical presence in Michigan can say there's a legitimate need for an emotional support animal. The legislation would not affect specially trained service animals that perform tasks for people with disabilities. Landlords can charge a monthly fee, which can run from $35-$50 a month, or a one-time charge of up to $500, for tenants with pets to cover costs of cleaning and damage to the rental units. Karlene Lehman, of the Property Managers of Michigan, said that of the 261 requests for reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities received in the last six months, 183 came from people who wanted an emotional support animal. "And the vast majority of those were from people who had an unauthorized animal in their apartment and gotten a verbal warning. Then they made the request," she said. "It's a growing problem. The abuses have reached epidemic levels. Matthew Miller, with the National Apartment Association, said too many renters are calling out-of-state doctors and getting questionable certification for emotional support animals. "It's important that there's a true patient-treater relationship," he said. "Instead of someone waking up one day with a disabling condition. Similar bills passed the state Senate last year, but died without final action in the House. The bills HB 4910-4911 now move to the House Judiciary Committee for consideration.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p></div></div></body></html>