State laws Colorado
From Service Dog Training
State laws in Colorado.
These links no longer work. I'll be going through updating everything in the next couple of weeks.
Contents |
Service dog access and definitions
"(1) A person with a disability, including but not limited to a blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, or otherwise physically disabled person, has the right to be accompanied by an assistance dog specially trained for that person without being required to pay an extra charge for the assistance dog in or on the following places and subject to the conditions and limitations established by law and applicable alike to all persons:
(a) Public streets, highways, walkways, public buildings, public facilities and services, and other public places;
(b) Any place of public accommodation or on public transportation services; and
(c) Any housing accommodation offered for rent, lease, or other compensation in the state.
(2) A trainer of an assistance dog has the right to be accompanied by an assistance dog that the trainer is in the process of training without being required to pay an extra charge for the assistance dog in or on the following places:
(a) Public streets, highways, walkways, public buildings, public facilities and services, and other public places; and
(b) Any place of public accommodation or on public transportation services.
(3) (a) An employer shall not refuse to permit an employee with a disability who is accompanied by an assistance dog to keep the employee's assistance dog with the employee at all times in the place of employment. An employer shall not fail or refuse to hire or discharge any person with a disability, or otherwise discriminate against any person with a disability, with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because that person with a disability is accompanied by an assistance dog specially trained for that person.
(b) An employer shall make reasonable accommodation to make the workplace accessible for an otherwise qualified person with a disability who is an applicant or employee and who is accompanied by an assistance dog specially trained for that person unless the employer can show that the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the employer's business. For purposes of this paragraph (b), "undue hardship" means an action requiring significant difficulty or expense.
(4) The owner or the person having control or custody of an assistance dog or an assistance dog in training is liable for any damage to persons, premises, or facilities, including places of housing accommodation and places of employment, caused by that person's assistance dog or assistance dog in training. The person having control or custody of an assistance dog or an assistance dog in training shall be subject to the provisions of section 18-9-204.5, C.R.S.
(5) A person with a disability is exempt from any state or local licensing fees or charges that might otherwise apply in connection with owning an assistance dog.
(6) The mere presence of an assistance dog in a place of public accommodation shall not be grounds for any violation of a sanitary standard, rule, or regulation promulgated pursuant to section 25-4-1604, C.R.S.
(7) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) "Assistance dog" means a dog that has been or is being trained as a guide dog, hearing dog, or service dog. Such terms are further defined as follows:
(I) "Guide dog" means a dog that has been or is being specially trained to aid a particular blind or visually impaired person.
(II) "Hearing dog" means a dog that has been or is being specially trained to aid a particular deaf or hearing impaired person.
(III) "Service dog" means a dog that has been or is being specially trained to aid a particular physically disabled person with a physical disability other than sight or hearing impairment.
(b) "Disability" has the same meaning as set forth in the federal "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990", 42 U.S.C. sec. 12102 (2), as amended.
(c) "Employer" has the same meaning as set forth in the federal "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990", 42 U.S.C. sec. 12111 (5), as amended.
(d) "Housing accommodations" means any real property or portion thereof that is used or occupied, or intended, arranged, or designed to be used or occupied, as the home, residence, or sleeping place of one or more persons but does not include any single family residence, the occupants of which rent, lease, or furnish for compensation not more than one room in that residence.
(e) "Places of public accommodation" means the following categories of private entities:
(I) Inns, hotels, motels, or other places of lodging, except establishments located within buildings actually occupied by the proprietor as the proprietor's residence containing five or fewer rooms for rent or hire;
(II) Restaurants, bars, cafeterias, lunchrooms, lunch counters, soda fountains, casinos, or other establishments serving food or drink, including any such facility located on the premises of any retail establishment;
(III) Gasoline stations or garages;
(IV) Motion picture theaters, theaters, billiard or pool halls, concert halls, stadiums, sports arenas, amusement or recreation parks, or other places of exhibition or entertainment;
(V) Auditoriums, convention centers, lecture halls, or other places of public gathering;
(VI) Bakeries, grocery stores, clothing stores, hardware stores, shopping centers, or other sales or retail establishments;
(VII) Laundromats, dry cleaners, banks, barber shops, beauty shops, travel services, shoe repair services, funeral parlors, offices of accountants or attorneys-at-law, pharmacies, insurance offices, professional offices of health care providers, hospitals, or other service establishments;
(VIII) Terminals, depots, or other stations used for specified purposes;
(IX) Museums, libraries, galleries, or other places of public display or collection;
(X) Parks, zoos, or other places of recreation;
(XI) Nursery, elementary, secondary, undergraduate, or graduate schools or other places of education;
(XII) Day care centers, senior citizen centers, homeless shelters, food banks, adoption agencies, or other social service center establishments;
(XIII) Gymnasiums, health spas, bowling alleys, golf courses, or other places of exercise or recreation;
(XIV) Any other establishment or place to which the public is invited; or
(XV) Any establishment physically containing or contained within any of the establishments described in this paragraph (e) that holds itself out as serving patrons of the described establishment.
(f) "Public transportation services" means common carriers of passengers or any other means of public conveyance or modes of transportation, including but not limited to airplanes, motor vehicles, railroad trains, motor buses, streetcars, boats, or taxis.
(g) "Trainer of an assistance dog" means a person who is qualified to train dogs to serve as assistance dogs."
Transportation of dogs accompanying blind and physically disabled persons
When a totally or partially blind, totally or partially deaf, or physically disabled person is accompanied by a dog which serves as an assistance dog or which is being trained by a qualified trainer as an assistance dog, as defined in section 24-34-803 (7), C.R.S., for such disabled person, neither the disabled person nor the dog shall be denied the facilities of any common carrier, nor shall such disabled person be denied the immediate custody of the dog while riding upon a common carrier. The provisions of this section shall also apply to any qualified trainer who is training a dog for use by a totally or partially blind, totally or partially deaf, or physically disabled person, unless the dog presents an imminent danger to the public health or safety. Such disabled person or any qualified trainer who is training a dog for use by a disabled person shall be liable for any damage done to the premises or facilities of the common carrier by such dog. Any dog being trained for the purpose of aiding a disabled person shall be visibly and prominently identified as an assistance dog in training.
White Cane Law
(1) Any pedestrian, other than a person in a wheelchair, or any driver of a vehicle who approaches a person who has an obviously apparent disability of blindness, deafness, or mobility impairment shall immediately come to a full stop and take such precautions before proceeding as are necessary to avoid an accident or injury to said person. A disability shall be deemed to be obviously apparent if, by way of example and without limitation, the person is using a cane or crutches, is assisted by an assistance dog, as defined in section 24-34-803 (7), C.R.S., is being assisted by another person, is in a wheelchair, or is walking with an obvious physical impairment. Any person who violates any provision of this section commits a class A traffic offense.
Summary
This law gives access to guide and service dog users in all public accommodations. It also defines service dogs with language similar to, and not in conflict with, the ADA. This law also specifically gives access to any disabled handler with an assistance dog on public transportation.
State laws may be superseded by the ADA. For the text of the ADA, click here. For general information about service dogs, click here. If you are looking for information on service dogs in places of business, check out our Information for businesses.
All opinions and summaries on this page are my own and should not be construed as legal advice. If you are in need of advice on the state or federal laws applicable to service dogs you should contact a lawyer. Last revised 10/6/2009
