[NFBMT] Montana Legislative Alert: HB 439

Mon Apr 8 22:55:42 UTC 2019

FYI, here is a draft of my written testimony opposing HB 439, the bill
criminalizing the use of fake service animals.

Criminalizing the misrepresentation of service animals makes no sense to the
National Federation of the Blind of Montana (NFB-MT).  As the NFB-MT
President and as a blind citizen who uses a guide dog, I speak for Montanans
who are blind and who use guide dogs.  We simply do not understand the fuss
over fake service animals.  Federal rules already address the issue
adequately, and this bill will not alter how dispute resolution is achieved.
We encourage shop keepers and others to ask the allowable questions and deny
fake service animal use.  However, no one in our organization recalls an
incident in which a fake service animal denied or limited our right to use a
guide dog.  Disruptive animal and human behaviors, on the other hand, often
interfere.  Of course, a fake service animal can be troublesome, but so can
any animal, including other authentic service animals.  If one is serious
about strengthening the right of Montanans with disabilities to use service
animals, then HB 439 should be amended to include criminalizing deliberate
and negligent actions that result in harm or the death of our service
animals.  Additionally, the bill should include penalties for public
accommodation authorities who refuse services to those using genuine service
animals.

Jim Marks
President, National Federation of the Blind of Montana
president at nfbofmt.org
(406) 438-1421

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBMT <nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of BRUCE&JOY BRESLAUER via
NFBMT
Sent: Friday, April 05, 2019 12:36 PM
To: nfbmt <nfbmt at nfbnet.org>
Cc: BRUCE&JOY BRESLAUER <breslauerj at gmail.com>
Subject: [NFBMT] Montana Legislative Alert: HB 439

On Wednesday, April 10, At 9:00, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hear HB
439, "Revise laws related to misrepresented service animals." This bill
establishes graduated penalties for an individual who intentionally
misrepresents an animal as a service animal. This bill will be heard in room
303.

If you would like to leave a message for a legislator, you can call
406-444-4800 and operators will take a message that will be forwarded to
legislators.  Please be aware that they will ask for your name and address,
which will not be shared other than with the legislator. The operators can
take a message

for up to 5 legislators at one time or to an entire committee.

You may also contact legislators using the online web message form.

https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/

Please fill in your name, address, city, state, zip, phone, and email, then
choose hb from the dropdown list, add 439 to the edit field, tab to and
choose a check box to indicate whether you want to send a message to a
legislator or a committee, then choose the Senate judiciary committee from
the dropdown list, then choose whether you are for or against, type your
message, and press submit.  I'm explaining this from memory so I might not
have the steps exactly in order, but you should do ok if you follow the
prompts.  You can either arrow down or tab through the form.  

Hope this helps.

Joy Breslauer, First Vice President

National Federation of the Blind of Montana 

Web Site: http://www.nfbofmt.org <http://www.nfbofmt.org/> 

Live the life you want

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day we work
together to help blind people live the lives they want. 

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