Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 43 - PUBLIC WELFARE (§§ 43-1-1 — 43-NEW01-012) › Chapter 6 - RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (§§ 43-6-1 — 43-6-263) › Article 5 - MISSISSIPPI SUPPORT ANIMAL ACT (§§ 43-6-151 — 43-6-155) › Section 43-6-153 - Definitions

The following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(a)
"Mobility impaired person" means any person, regardless of age, who is subject to a physiological defect or deficiency regardless of its cause, nature, or extent that renders the person unable to move about without the aid of crutches, a wheelchair or any other form of support, or that limits the person's functional ability to ambulate, climb, descend, sit, rise, or to perform any related function.
(b)
"Blind" means either of the following:
(i)
Vision 20/200 or less in the better eye with proper correction.
(ii)
Field defect in the better eye with proper correction which contracts the peripheral field so that the diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than twenty (20) degrees.
(c)
"Traumatic event" means a life-threatening event such as military combat, natural disaster, terrorist incident, serious accident or violent personal assault of a physical or sexual nature that occurred while an individual was on active duty or deployment as a member of the United States Armed Services.
(d)
"Post traumatic stress disorder" or PTSD means an anxiety disorder that occurs following the experience of a frightening, distressing or traumatic event or from witnessing a traumatic event. PTSD is also referred to as "post traumatic stress syndrome" or PTSS.
(e)
"Support animal" means an animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability. The work done or task performed must be directly related to the individual's disability and may include, but not be limited to:
(i)
Guiding individuals who are visually impaired or blind;
(ii)
Alerting individuals who are hearing impaired or deaf to an intruder or sounds;
(iii)
Providing minimal protection or rescue work;
(iv)
Pulling a wheelchair;
(v)
Fetching dropped items;
(vi)
Detecting the onset of a seizure, and alerting and protecting individuals having a seizure;
(vii)
Retrieving objects;
(viii)
Alerting an individual to the presence of allergens;
(ix)
Providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to an individual with a mobility disability;
(x)
Helping an individual with a psychiatric or neurological disability by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors;
(xi)
Reminding an individual with mental illness to take prescribed medication;
(xii)
Calming an individual with post traumatic stress disorder during an anxiety attack; or
(xiii)
Doing other specific work or performing other special tasks.
The term "support animal" includes service animals, guide animals, seeing-eye animals, hearing-ear animals, therapeutic animals, comfort animals and facility animals. However, the term "support animal" does not mean an animal considered a pet, and is limited to a dog or miniature horse.
(f)
"Support animal trainer" means a person who trains or raises support animals for individuals with disabilities, whether the person is a professional trainer, or serving as a volunteer with a professional trainer.
Laws, 1989, ch. 386, § 2, eff. 7/1/1989.
Amended by Laws, 2018, ch. 341, HB 944,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2018.