[NFB-Idaho] Service dog legislation update

[Laine Amoureux]

The new Idaho Service dog statute that will go into effect July 1, 2019 has a couple of significant changes: 

1) ALL DISABILITIES will now be covered under state statute for “in training” service dogs for both public access and owner trainers.  This is a significant change to Idaho Title 56 Statute. 

2)  If you’re disabled, you don’t have to produce an ID card while your dog is “in training.” 

If you are training a dog for someone else, yes you are considered a business.    Must have ID card and dog in training must be identified as “in training,”. 

The significant change is : Two different categories. 

Disabled owner trainers have rights. 

Trainers have privileges.  They are not disabled.

Under the definitions section there are two clear definitions: Service Dogs and “Dogs in training”.   No one should be confused about Idaho code any longer.   

We’ve also cleared up any ambiguity about misbehavior for being removed from a place of public accommodation.    Businesses have been confused about this for fear of retaliation.    The behavior of the dog is now clearly defined.   The focus should be the behavior of the dog and the dog should be removed if it’s not behaving properly no matter who the handler is.

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