[nagdu] New Law Targets Service animal Impostors

[Bridget Walker]

Florida is headed in the right direction! Good work! I hope more states follow in your footsteps. I'm sure there are details to work through but, Florida has the right kind of legislation and mind set for the fake service handler representation. 
I will not be at the national this year but, my hope is this topic will be discussed as possible legislation for other states. 
 
Bridget 

Sent from my iPad

> On Jul 1, 27 Heisei, at 4:25 PM, Marion Gwizdala via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> NEWS RELEASE
> 
> For Immediate Use 
> 
> FROM: Florida Association of Guide Dog Users 
> 
> DATE: June 30, 2015
> 
> TO: All media
> 
> RE: New Criminal Law Effective July 1, 2015
> 
> CONTACT: Sherrill O'Brien, President
> 
>     (813) 935-0474
> 
>                     Sherrill.obrien at verizon.net
> 
> 
> 
> NEW LAW TARGETS SERVICE ANIMAL IMPOSTORS 
> 
> 
> 
>     On July 1, a new law providing criminal penalties for those who pass
> their pets off as service animals took effect. This law, sponsored by
> Representative Jimmy Smith (R-Inverness) makes it a second degree
> misdemeanor for any person to knowingly and willfully misrepresent herself
> or himself as using a service animal and being qualified to use a service
> animal or as a trainer of a service animal in order to take advantage of the
> civil rights protections afforded to disabled people with legitimate trained
> service animals. Those convicted of a violation of this statute would face a
> fine of $500 and be required to perform 30 hours of community service. The
> entire text of this law is attached to this message. 
> 
> 
> 
> "The goal of this law is two-fold," says Representative Smith. "Its intent
> is to enhance the quality of life for those disabled individuals with a
> legitimate need for a service dog and to make the public aware of the
> serious detrimental effects caused by their fraudulent actions." 
> 
> 
> 
> Sherrill O'Brien, president of the Florida Association of Guide dog Users
> (FLAGDU), a division of the National Federation of the Blind, supports the
> new law and believes it will be a deterrent to those who abuse the system.
> 
> 
> 
> "I especially like the idea of requiring impersonators to perform community
> service," says O'Brien. "It helps to offset the community disservice they
> have committed!"  
> 
> # # #
> 
> 
> About the National Association of Guide dog Users
> 
>                The Florida Association of Guide Dog Users is an affiliate
> division of the National Association of Guide dog Users, the nation's
> leading membership organization for blind people who use guide dogs.  NAGDU
> is a strong and proud division of the National Federation of the Blind. We
> conduct public awareness campaigns on issues of guide dog use, provide
> advocacy support for guide dog handlers who face discrimination, support
> sound policy and effective legislation to protect the rights of guide dog
> users, offer educational programs to school and civic organizations, and
> function as an integral part of the National Federation of the Blind. For
> more information about the National Association of Guide Dog Users and to
> support our work, you can visit our website at <HTTP://WWW.NAGDU.ORG
> <http://www.nagdu.org/> > or send an email to <Info at NAGDU.ORG>.
> 
> 
> 
> About the NAGDU Guide & Service animal Mobile App
> 
> The National Association of Guide dog Users sponsors the NAGDU Service
> Animal Information & Advocacy Mobile app! This innovative app provides
> general information about the state and federal laws that protect the civil
> rights of disabled individuals who use service dogs. The app contains the
> full texts of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and each of the
> state statutes that affirm the rights of those who use service dogs, as well
> as general guidance concerning access to specific types of establishments,
> such as hotels, restaurants, taxicabs, health care facilities and more. In
> addition, this app provides the ability to directly connect with a live
> advocate who has been specially trained to resolve access issues as they
> occur and send an email for more specific guidance. This app is provided by
> the National Association of Guide dog Users at no charge as a public
> service. To download the app, simply type the term "NAGDU" into the app
> store's search field.
> 
> 
> 
> About the National Federation of the Blind
> 
>            The National Federation of the Blind is the oldest and largest
> organization of the blind in the United States. The NFB knows that blindness
> is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we
> raise the expectations of blind people because low expectations are the
> obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you
> want! Blindness is not what holds you back. The Federation provides
> scholarships to blind students; support for those who are blind or losing
> their eyesight; advocacy for the blind facing discrimination; and
> educational programs for the general public on topics of blindness. The NFB
> is not an organization that speaks on behalf of the blind; we are the blind
> speaking for ourselves.
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/bridgetawalker13%40aol.com