CS/CS/CS/HB 209 - Emotional Support Animals

• Creates s. 760.27 to prohibit housing discrimination against persons with disabilities who have or obtain emotional support animals, and prohibits charging extra compensation for such animals.

• Allows housing providers to request reliable information about a person's disability and the animal's disability-related need, but prohibits requests for diagnosis, severity, or medical records; online registrations alone are insufficient proof.

• Establishes that persons with disabilities are liable for any damage caused by their emotional support animals and requires proof of state and local licensing and vaccination compliance.

• Amends s. 456.072 to prohibit health care practitioners from providing information supporting an emotional support animal claim without personal knowledge of the patient's disability or need.

• Creates s. 817.265 to make falsifying information about emotional support animals a second-degree misdemeanor with required 30 hours of community service within 6 months of conviction; changes terminology from "handicap" to "disability" throughout related statutes.