New Law Helps Protect the Right of Persons with Disabilities to

Use Service Animals

Contact: Vicki Levengood 517-241-7978
Agency: Civil Rights

October 20, 2015

Lansing, MI - Today Governor Rick Snyder signed into law a four-bill package
designed to help insure people with disabilities, including veterans, who use
service animals in Michigan wont be refused entry to businesses, schools,
hospitals and other public accommodations.
The law, Service Animals for Persons with Disabilities, clarifies the rules
regarding the use of service animals and updates the terminology related to
service animals to bring it in line with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It
also will make it easier for establishments to determine who is legally entitled to
an accommodation.

Many veterans return from their service with hidden disabilities disabilities that
arent immediately apparent, but that are just as real and limiting as other
injuries, said Matt Wesaw, Director of the Michigan Department of Civil
Rights. This law will help anyone who relies on a service animal to go about
their daily lives without the worry that theyll be confronted or blocked from
exercising their right to a service animal under the ADA.
Under the new law, any person using a service animal can choose to register
with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR). Once MDCR has verified
the application, they will provide a patch to identify the service animal, and a
voluntary ID card for the individual with the disability. The law will go into effect
90 days from its signing, on Jan. 18, 2016.
MDCR already uses its existing complaint system to take reports of problems
encountered by anyone with a disability using a service animal. Under the new
law, MDCR will also accept reports from businesses and other public
accommodations of someone impersonating an individual with a disability using
a service animal. The department may refer criminal violations to law
enforcement agencies for investigation. The new law increases the penalty for
attempting to impersonate an individual with a service animal to up to $500.
MDCR will issue guidelines for individuals who wish to request a patch and ID
card prior to the laws implementation, and will make that information available
on the departments website,www.michigan.gov/mdcr.
For a high resolution version of the MDCR service animal patch, send an email
with your name and media outlet to Lisa Collins at CollinsL3@michigan.gov.
The Michigan Department of Civil Rights is charged with investigating and
resolving discrimination complaints and works to prevent discrimination through
educational programs that promote voluntary compliance with civil rights laws.
The Department also provides information and services to businesses on
diversity initiatives and equal employment law. For more information on the
Michigan Department of Civil Rights, go to www.michigan.gov/mdcr.