Senate Passes Measure to Protect Service Animals

Senator Judy Eason McIntyre was pleased when the Senate passed House Bill 1524, a measure aimed at protecting service animals owned by people with disabilities. The House of Representatives author is Al Lindley, a Democrat from South Oklahoma City.

Eason McIntyre stated Representative Lindley informed her about a recent incident that occurred in relation to this measure. Oklahoma City resident Dale Atkinson is a handicapped gentleman who had his service monkey taken away from him by the City of Oklahoma City because he did not have the proper animal permit. He has tried to get his service monkey back, but has been informed that the City has lost the animal.

"I'm extremely pleased this measure cleared the Senate today. HB 1524 would prevent any city in the state from taking away a handicapped individual's service animal. It is tragic that Mr. Atkinson's service monkey was taken away from him because he lacked the proper permit," stated the Democrat from Tulsa. "HB 1524 will ensure that anyone with a disability that has spent their limited funds on the training of a service animal will not have to worry about the risk of the important animal being taken away."

Under provisions of HB 1524, a service animal is defined as an animal that is trained for the purpose of guiding or assisting a disabled person who has a sensory, mental, or physical impairment. The measure also makes it unlawful to interfere with the performance of any service animal that is used for the benefit of any handicapped person in the state.

If convicted of such a crime, the individual will be charged with a misdemeanor, punishable by a crime not to exceed $1,000 and/or imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed one year. In addition to the penalty, the court is required to order the violator to make restitution to the owner of the service animal for actual costs and expenses incurred as a direct result of any injury, disability, or death caused to the service animal.

"This is an important measure because many handicapped people across the state rely upon service animals to do things that we take for granted on a daily basis. HB 1524 will secure the right of a disabled individual to have a service animal that is helpful to them," concluded Eason McIntyre.