MA S1254

Creates a 15-member special legislative commission to study service animal use and misrepresentation in Massachusetts, co-chaired by the House and Senate chairs of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Commission includes representatives from the Attorney General's office, Massachusetts Office on Disability, Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, municipal police training committee, mental health legal advisors committee, Massachusetts Restaurant Association, and retail industry

Study scope covers reviewing federal, state, and local service animal laws; examining benefits for individuals with disabilities; investigating fraud and misrepresentation prevalence; and researching deterrence practices in other jurisdictions

Commission must recommend potential law changes including redefining "service animal," whether to create civil penalties for service animal fraud, and assess feasibility of certification, registration, or licensing systems

Final report due to the legislature by April 1, 2026