State laws Texas
From Service Dog Training
State laws in Texas.
§ 121.005. RESPONSIBILITIES OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. (a) A person with a disability who uses an assistance animal for assistance in travel is liable for any damages done to the premises or facilities by the animal. (b) A person with a disability who uses an assistance animal for assistance in travel or auditory awareness shall keep the animal properly harnessed or leashed, and a person who is injured by the animal because of the failure of a person with a disability to properly harness or leash the animal is entitled to maintain a cause of action for damages in a court of competent jurisdiction under the same law applicable to other causes brought for the redress of injuries caused by animals.
Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2427, ch. 842, art. 1, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1979. Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 3310, ch. 865, § 3, eff. Aug. 31, 1981; Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 278, § 3, eff. June 5, 1985; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 649, § 6, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
§ 121.006. PENALTIES FOR IMPROPER USE OF ASSISTANCE ANIMALS. (a) A person who uses an assistance animal with a harness or leash of the type commonly used by persons with disabilities who use trained animals, in order to represent that his or her animal is a specially trained assistance animal when training of the type described in Section 121.002(1)(B) of this chapter has not in fact been provided, is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction shall be punished by a fine of not more than $200. (b) A person who habitually abuses or neglects to feed or otherwise neglects to properly care for his or her assistance animal is subject to seizure of the animal under Subchapter B, Chapter 821, Health and Safety Code.
Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2427, ch. 842, art. 1, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1979. Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 3311, ch. 865, § 4, eff. Aug. 31, 1981; Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 278, § 4, eff. June 5, 1985; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 649, § 7, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Overview
This code defines a service animal as a dog specifically trained to assist a person with a disability. It further defines a service animal user as a person that has completed a recognized course to learn to use the dog given by a recognized organization. This law provides less protection than the ADA, and the ADA's access guidelines would apply in this case.
Note: I've never had any trouble in Texas with this.
State laws may be superseded by the ADA.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 9/26/2009
