HB 373 Summary

• Creates crimes for harassing, injuring, or causing the death of a service dog, with penalties ranging from Class C misdemeanor for harassment to Class A misdemeanor for intentional injury or death.

• Defines service dogs as individually trained dogs assisting persons with physician-diagnosed physical or mental disabilities, including guide dogs, mobility assistance dogs, hearing assistance dogs, and medical alert dogs.

• Establishes that harassment includes conduct directed at a service dog or handler that impedes performance or endangers health and safety, such as taunting, teasing, or striking.

• Requires convicted offenders to pay full restitution for damages including medical expenses, dog replacement and retraining costs, lost wages of the service dog user, and other economic losses caused by the violation.

• Allows service dog users to bring civil lawsuits in their home county or where the violation occurred, with courts authorized to award costs and reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party.