S.B. 280 Summary

• Codifies the definition of "assistance animal" in Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 515-2 as an animal needed to perform disability-related work or provide emotional support that alleviates symptoms of a person's disability, including service animals, therapy animals, comfort animals, or emotional support animals.

• Clarifies that housing providers may request written verification from a treating health care professional, mental health professional, social worker, or rehabilitation counselor to establish a disability-related need for an assistance animal when the need is not readily apparent.

• Specifies that possession of vests, tags, or online registration documents purporting to identify an animal as a service or assistance animal does not constitute valid verification of a disability-related need.

• Amends Section 515-3 of Hawaii Revised Statutes to replace commas with semicolons in the list of protected classes under fair housing law and clarifies reasonable accommodation provisions for assistance animals.

• Takes effect July 1, 2060.