§21-7-4. Right of person with a disability to be accompanied by service animal.

(a) For the purposes of this section, the term service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability.

(b) Every person with a disability, including a person who is totally or partially blind, hearing-impaired, or diagnosed on the autism spectrum shall have the right to be accompanied by a service animal in any public place, including a public or private school, and any of the places listed in Section 21-7-3. The person may not be required to pay an extra charge for the service animal.

(c) The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the handler's disability.

(d) A person training a service animal shall be entitled to the same privileges granted to a person with a disability pursuant to subsection (b).

(e) In the case of a disabled child, including a child diagnosed on the autism spectrum, any aide assigned to assist the child shall be trained with the service animal in basic commands in order to assist the child as a team.

(f) This section does not relieve a person accompanied by a service animal from liability for any damages done to the premises or facilities by the service animal.

(Acts 1975, No. 869, p. 1711, §2; Acts 1982, No. 82-527, p. 877, §1; Act 99-698, 2nd Sp. Sess., p. 298, §1; Act 2001-344, p. 446, §1; Act 2011-578, p. 1251, §1.)