SF 1614

1st Engrossment - 83rd Legislature (2003 - 2004) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to animals; requiring restitution for harm 
  1.3             done by dogs to service animals; amending Minnesota 
  1.4             Statutes 2002, section 609.226, by adding a 
  1.5             subdivision. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 609.226, is 
  1.8   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.9      Subd. 4.  [SERVICE ANIMAL.] For purposes of this 
  1.10  subdivision, "service animal" means an animal individually 
  1.11  trained or being trained to do work or perform tasks for the 
  1.12  benefit of an individual with a disability.  A person who causes 
  1.13  bodily harm to a service animal or otherwise renders a service 
  1.14  animal unable to perform its duties by negligently or 
  1.15  intentionally (1) permitting a dog to run uncontrolled off the 
  1.16  owner's premises, or (2) failing to keep their dog properly 
  1.17  confined or controlled, must make restitution for resulting 
  1.18  costs and expenses.  Costs and expenses include, but are not 
  1.19  limited to, the user's loss of income, veterinary expenses, 
  1.20  travel costs, and other expenses of temporary replacement 
  1.21  assistance services, and replacement costs, including retraining 
  1.22  of the service animal, incurred by the school, agency, or 
  1.23  individual providing a replacement for a service animal that is 
  1.24  no longer able to safely or dependably perform its duties.  This 
  1.25  subdivision does not affect any civil remedies available for an 
  2.1   act that violates this subdivision.