As Introduced

129th General Assembly
Regular Session
2011-2012
S. B. No. 149


Senators Bacon, Jones 

Cosponsors: Senators Patton, Stewart, Schaffer, Sawyer 

A BILL
To amend section 955.011 of the Revised Code to 1
revise the definition of "mobility impaired 2
person" to include a person who is diagnosed with 3
autism for purposes of the statutes governing 4
assistance dogs. 5


BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

       Section 1. That section 955.011 of the Revised Code be 6
amended to read as follows:7

       Sec. 955.011.  (A) When an application is made for 8
registration of an assistance dog and the owner can show proof by 9
certificate or other means that the dog is an assistance dog, the 10
owner of the dog shall be exempt from any fee for the 11
registration. Registration for an assistance dog shall be 12
permanent and not subject to annual renewal so long as the dog is 13
an assistance dog. Certificates and tags stamped "Ohio Assistance 14
Dog-Permanent Registration," with registration number, shall be 15
issued upon registration of such a dog. Any certificate and tag 16
stamped "Ohio Guide Dog-Permanent Registration" or "Ohio Hearing 17
Dog-Permanent Registration," with registration number, that was 18
issued for a dog in accordance with this section as it existed 19
prior to July 4, 1984, any certificate and tag stamped "Ohio 20
Handicapped Assistance Dog-Permanent Registration," with 21
registration number, that was issued for a dog in accordance with 22
this section as it existed on and after July 5, 1984, but prior to 23
November 26, 2004, and any certificate and tag stamped "Ohio 24
Service Dog-Permanent Registration," with registration number, 25
that was issued for a dog in accordance with this section as it 26
existed on and after November 26, 2004, but prior to the effective 27
date of this amendmentJune 30, 2006, shall remain in effect as 28
valid proof of the registration of the dog on and after November 29
26, 2004. Duplicate certificates and tags for a dog registered in 30
accordance with this section, upon proper proof of loss, shall be 31
issued and no fee required. Each duplicate certificate and tag 32
that is issued shall be stamped "Ohio Assistance Dog-Permanent 33
Registration."34

       (B) As used in this section and in sections 955.16 and 955.43 35
of the Revised Code:36

       (1) "Mobility impaired person" means any person, regardless 37
of age, who is subject to a physiological defect or deficiency 38
regardless of its cause, nature, or extent that renders the person 39
unable to move about without the aid of crutches, a wheelchair, or 40
any other form of support, or that limits the person's functional 41
ability to ambulate, climb, descend, sit, rise, or perform any 42
related function. "Mobility impaired person" includes a person 43
with a neurological or psychological disability that limits the 44
person's functional ability to ambulate, climb, descend, sit, 45
rise, or perform any related function. "Mobility impaired person" 46
also includes a person with a seizure disorder and a person who is 47
diagnosed with autism.48

       (2) "Blind" means either of the following:49

       (a) Vision twenty/two hundred or less in the better eye with 50
proper correction;51

       (b) Field defect in the better eye with proper correction 52
that contracts the peripheral field so that the diameter of the 53
visual field subtends an angle no greater than twenty degrees.54

       (3) "Assistance dog" means a guide dog, hearing dog, or 55
service dog that has been trained by a nonprofit special agency.56

       (4) "Guide dog" means a dog that has been trained or is in 57
training to assist a blind person.58

       (5) "Hearing dog" means a dog that has been trained or is in 59
training to assist a deaf or hearing-impaired person.60

        (6) "Service dog" means a dog that has been trained or is in 61
training to assist a mobility impaired person.62

       Section 2. That existing section 955.011 of the Revised Code 63
is hereby repealed.64