HI HB381

Codifies the definition of "assistance animal" in Hawaii Revised Statutes as an animal needed to perform disability-related work, services, or tasks, or that provides emotional support alleviating symptoms of a disability, including service animals, therapy animals, comfort animals, or emotional support animals of any species.

Permits housing providers and persons engaged in real estate transactions to request verification from a treating health care professional if the disability-related need for an assistance animal is not readily apparent.

Specifies that possession of a vest, garment, tag, or online-purchased registration document purporting to identify an animal as a service animal or assistance animal does not constitute valid verification of a disability-related need.

Maintains existing fair housing protections allowing reasonable accommodations for assistance animals while establishing the verification framework as a "provided further" condition to subsection (9) of section 515-3.

Takes effect on November 1, 2021.