Courthouse Dogs Act

Bill: 116-hr-5403
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
Introduced: 2019-12-11
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal procedure and sentencing

Evidence and witnesses

Judicial procedure and administration

Mammals

Service animals
Latest action: action_date: 2020-01-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-12-11
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Courthouse Dogs Act</b></p> <p>This bill authorizes federal courts to allow a certified facility dog to accompany a witness testifying in a criminal proceeding.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5403 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 11, 2019 Ms. Scanlon (for herself and Mr. Rutherford ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To allow the use of certified facility dogs in criminal proceedings in Federal courts, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Courthouse Dogs Act . 2. Use of certified facility dog for testimony in criminal proceedings (a) In general Chapter 223 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 3502 the following: 3503. Use of certified facility dog for testimony in criminal proceedings (a) Defined term In this section, the term certified facility dog means a dog that has graduated from an assistance dog organization that is a member of an internationally recognized assistance dog association that has a primary purpose of granting accreditation based on standards of excellence in areas of— (1) assistance dog acquisition; (2) dog training; (3) dog handler training; and (4) dog placement. (b) Requests for use of certified facility dogs Either party in a criminal proceeding in a Federal court may apply for an order from the court to allow a certified facility dog, if available, to be present with a witness testifying before the court through— (1) in-person testimony; or (2) testimony televised by 2-way, closed-circuit television. (c) Conditions for approval A Federal court may enter an order authorizing an available certified facility dog to accompany a witness while testifying at a hearing in accordance with subsection (b) if the court finds that— (1) the dog to be used qualifies as a certified facility dog; (2) the use of a certified facility dog will aid the witness in providing testimony; and (3) upon a showing by the party seeking an order under subsection (b), the certified facility dog is insured for liability protection. (d) Handlers Each certified facility dog authorized to accompany a witness under subsection (c) shall be accompanied by a handler who is— (1) trained to manage the certified facility dog by an assistance dog organization described in subsection (a); and (2) a professional working in the legal system with knowledge about the legal and criminal justice processes. (e) Deadline The party seeking an order under subsection (b) shall apply for such order not later than 14 days before the preliminary hearing, trial date, or other hearing to which the order is to apply. (f) Other orders A Federal court may make such orders as may be necessary to preserve the fairness of the proceeding, including imposing restrictions on, and instructing the jury regarding, the presence of the certified facility dog during the proceedings. (g) Savings provision Nothing in this section may be construed to prevent a Federal court from providing any other accommodations to a witness in accordance with applicable law. . (b) Clerical amendment The chapter analysis for chapter 223 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 3502 the following: 3503. Use of certified facility dog for testimony in criminal proceedings. .