SB263 Alabama 2017 Session

Under existing law, it is unlawful for a person to knowingly harass or injure a service dog, and a person violating this provision may be subject to criminal penalties. The definition of service dog does not include a therapy dog

This bill would add a therapy dog to the definition of a service dog subject to criminal penalties if a person knowingly harasses or injures a therapy dog

Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose

The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment

To amend Section 2 of Act 2016-132 of the 2016 Regular Session, now appearing as Section 13A-11-231 of the Code of Alabama 1975, providing criminal penalties for the harassment or injury of service dogs; to include a therapy dog in the definition of service dog; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.