HB 4910 Summary

• Establishes the "Misrepresentation of Emotional Support Animals Act" to regulate certification of emotional support animals by health care providers and accommodation requests in housing.

• Prohibits individuals from falsely representing they have a disability or require an emotional support animal, and prohibits health care providers from falsely certifying that individuals need emotional support animals.

• Requires health care providers to establish a bona fide provider-patient relationship (including in-person or telehealth evaluation and ongoing follow-up care) and prohibits receiving compensation solely for issuing emotional support animal documentation.

• Allows housing providers to require valid authorization from tenants seeking emotional support animal accommodations and sets requirements for health care provider documentation, including the relationship between disability and animal need.

• Establishes criminal penalties of up to $500 for first offense and up to 90 days imprisonment or $1,000 fine for subsequent offenses; allows housing providers to terminate leases for false misrepresentation of emotional support animals; requires Department of Civil Rights to establish complaint hotline.