S.B. 280 Summary

• Codifies the definition of "assistance animal" in Hawaii Revised Statutes as an animal needed to perform disability-related work, services, or tasks, or provide emotional support that alleviates symptoms of a person's disability; includes service animals, therapy animals, comfort animals, and emotional support animals that may be formally trained or untrained and include species other than dogs.

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

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

• Amends Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 515-3 to revise punctuation in the list of protected classes under fair housing law (race, sex, sexual orientation, color, religion, marital status, familial status, ancestry, disability, age, and HIV infection).

• Takes effect July 1, 2060.