2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 17: CRIMES › Chapter 47: DISCRIMINATION › Subchapter 2: MODEL WHITE CANE LAW › 17 §1312. Rights

§1312. Rights
1.  Streets and public places.
Persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise physically disabled have the same right as persons who are not disabled to the full and free use of the streets, highways, sidewalks, walkways, public buildings, public facilities and other public places.
[PL 2021, c. 348, §19 (AMD).]
2.  Public conveyances.
Persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise physically disabled are entitled to full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of all common carriers, airplanes, motor vehicles, railroad trains, motor buses, street cars, boats or any other public conveyances or modes of transportation, hotels, lodging places, places of public accommodation, amusement or resort, and other places to which the general public is invited, subject only to the conditions and limitations established by law and applicable alike to all persons.
[PL 2021, c. 348, §19 (AMD).]
3.  Service dogs.
Every person who is totally or partially blind or otherwise physically or mentally disabled has the right to be accompanied by a service dog, specially trained for the purpose, in any of the places listed in subsection 2 without being required to pay an extra charge for the service dog; however, the person is liable for any damage done to the premises or facilities by such a dog.
[PL 2021, c. 348, §19 (AMD).]
4.  Specially trained service dog trainer; access to public facilities; responsibilities.
A specially trained service dog trainer, while engaged in the actual training process and activities of service dogs, has the same rights, privileges and responsibilities described in this section with respect to access to and use of public facilities as are applicable to persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise physically or mentally disabled.
[PL 2021, c. 348, §19 (AMD).]
5.  Housing accommodations; persons with service dogs.
Every person who is blind or visually impaired or otherwise physically or mentally disabled who has a service animal, such as a service dog, is entitled to full and equal access to all housing accommodations provided for in this section. Persons who are blind or visually impaired or otherwise physically or mentally disabled may not be required to pay extra compensation to keep service animals. A person who is blind or visually impaired or otherwise physically or mentally disabled is liable for any damages done to the premises by the service animal.
[PL 2021, c. 348, §19 (AMD).]
6.  Housing accommodations; definitions.
"Housing accommodations," as used in this section, means any real property, or portion of real property, which is used or occupied, or is intended, arranged or designed to be used or occupied, as the home, residence or sleeping place of one or more human beings, including, but not limited to, public housing projects and all forms of publicly assisted housing, single and multifamily rental and sale units, lodging places, condominiums and cooperative apartments. "Housing accommodations" does not include:
A. The rental of a housing accommodation in a building which contains housing accommodations for not more than 2 families living independently of each other, if the owner or members of the owner's family reside in that housing accommodation; or   [PL 1987, c. 104, §1 (NEW).]
B. The rental of a room or rooms in a housing accommodation, if the rental is by the occupant of the housing accommodation or by the owner of the housing accommodation and the owner or members of the owner's family reside in that housing accommodation.   [PL 1987, c. 104, §1 (NEW).]
[PL 1987, c. 104, §1 (NEW).]
7.  Service dog; definition.
As used in this section, "service dog" means a dog that meets the definition of "service animal" in Title 5, section 4553, subsection 9‑E.
[PL 2015, c. 457, §8 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1971, c. 58, §1 (NEW). PL 1981, c. 584, §1 (AMD). PL 1987, c. 104, §1 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 611, §§1-4 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 664, §§17-20 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 369, §6 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 457, §8 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 348, §19 (AMD).