HB620 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Joe Hubbard

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Service animals, to be certified by trainer and service certificate provided to principal or headmaster of K-12 school before allowed on property, Sec. 21-7-4 am'd; Act 2011-578, 2011 Reg. Sess., am'd

Summary

HB620 would require service animals at Alabama K-12 schools to be certified by a trainer and have a service certificate given to the school before the animal can be on campus.

What This Bill Does

The bill adds a requirement that a service animal be certified by a trainer and that a service certificate be provided to the principal or headmaster before the animal is allowed on school property. It defines service animals as dogs trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability and requires the animal's work to relate to the handler's disability, with aides for disabled children (including autism) trained to work with the animal as a team. It keeps existing rights for service animals in public places and clarifies liability remains with the handler, while outlining when the act becomes effective.

Who It Affects

• Students with disabilities who rely on service dogs, who would need the trainer certification and school certificate before bringing the dog to school.
• K-12 schools and their staff (principals/headmasters, aides, and service-animal trainers) who will implement, manage, and enforce the certification process and related training.

Key Provisions

• Defines a service animal as a dog individually trained to perform work or tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability.
• Before a service animal may be allowed in a public or private K-12 school, the animal must be certified by a trainer and a service certificate must be provided to the principal or headmaster.
• The work or tasks performed by the service animal must be directly related to the handler's disability.
• A person training a service animal is entitled to the same privileges as a person with a disability under the existing law.
• In the case of a disabled child, aides assisting the child must be trained with the service animal in basic commands to work as a team.
• The act does not relieve a person accompanied by a service animal from liability for damages caused by the animal.
• Maintains the existing right of persons with disabilities to be accompanied by a service animal in public places, including schools, without being charged extra fees.
• Effective date: the act takes effect on the first day of the third month after passage.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Service Animals