Resolve, Establishing the Study Commission To Ensure Integrity in the Use of Service Animals
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0872
Committee Amendment CA_A_H370 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" 
"to H.P. 591, L.D. 872, "Resolve, Establishing 
the Study Commission To Ensure Integrity in the Use of Service Animals" 
Amend the resolve by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, Establishing a Task Force To Ensure Integrity in the Use of Service 
Animals' 
Amend the resolve by striking out everything after the title and before the summary 
and inserting the following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, this resolve establishes a task force to study training and certification 
requirements of service animals, methods of disseminating infonnation about service 
animills to the public and documentation of training and certification of service animals; 
and 
Whereas, the business of the task force must be initiated before the 90-day period 
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expires in order that it may be completed and a report submitted in time for submission to 
the next legislative session; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, be it 
Sec. 1. Task force to ensure integrity in the use of service animals. 
Resolved: 
That the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall 
convene a task force of interested parties to study: 
1. Training requirements for service animals; 
2. 
Certifying organizations and existing certification requirements for service 
animals and development of new state-based certification requirements, if needed; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A"to H.P. 591, L.D. 872 
3. 
The necessity of educating the public about service animals and methods of 
disseminating infonnation about service animals; 
4. 
Documentation of training and certification of service animals and the 
development of additional documentation and proofs, if needed; and 
5. Housing issues related to service animals; and be it further 
Sec. 2. 
Task force membership. 
Resolved: 
That the Commissioner of 
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall invite the following individuals to 
participate in the task force: 2 trainers of service or therapy animals, a restaurant owner 
or operator, a member of the business connnunity, a member of the Maine Human Rights 
Commission or a designee selected by the commission, a member from the public 
education system, a member of the Maine Real Estate Managers Association, a 
representative of the Central Maine Apartment Owners Association or the Maine 
Apartment Owners and Managers Association, a resident of the State with physical 
disabilities, a resident of the State with nonphysical disabilities, an attorney who 
specializes in disability law with experience in both state and federal laws governing 
service animals and the state accessibility coordinator from the Department of Labor, 
Bureau of Rehabilitation Services; and be it further 
Sec. 3. 
Report. 
Resolved: 
That, no later than December 2, 2015, the 
Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall report the task force's 
recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee 
on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. 
The Joint Standing Committee on 
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry may submit a bill related to the subject matter of 
the report to the Second Regular Session of the I 27th Legislature. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the majority report, 'replaces the resolve. It directs the 
Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to convene a task force to 
ensure integrity in the use of service animals. It establishes the duties of the task force 
and guidelines for its membership and requires the submission of a report to the Joint 
Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, which is given authority 
to report out a bill based on the report. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 06/08/15 
:Wac:.. 
LD872 
LR 905(02) 
Resolve, Establishing the Study Commission To Ensure Integrity in the Use of Service Animals 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ir (JI-.3 7f) ) 
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Any additional costs to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestty to convene a task force concerning 
service animals and making a report to the Legislature are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing 
budgeted resources. The additional costs to the Maine Human Rights Commission to serve on the task force are 
expected to be minor. 
LR0905(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1