[NAGDU] FW: [msb-alumni] Bill cracks down on fake emotional support animals

William Vandervest timelord09 at comcast.net
Mon Dec 9 22:41:41 UTC 2019



 

 

From: msb-alumni-bounce at freelists.org
[mailto:msb-alumni-bounce at freelists.org] On Behalf Of Steve
Sent: Monday, 9 December, 2019 16:09
To: msb-alumni at freelists.org
Subject: [msb-alumni] Bill cracks down on fake emotional support animals 

 

Bill cracks down on fake emotional support animals By Kathleen Gray Detroit
Free Press 

 

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.

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