HB 2271 Summary

• Defines "assistance animal" in Hawaii's fair housing laws to include service animals, therapy animals, comfort animals, and emotional support animals that may be trained or untrained and include species other than dogs.

• Specifies that assistance animals are needed to perform disability-related work, services, or tasks, or to provide emotional support that alleviates identified symptoms or effects of a person's disability.

• Requires verification of disability-related need for an assistance animal to be issued in writing by a health care professional, mental health professional, social worker, or rehabilitation counselor who has personally evaluated the person.

• Amends Section 515-3 of Hawaii Revised Statutes to clarify that landlords must make reasonable accommodations for assistance animals while allowing reasonable restrictions on such accommodations.