Loading chat...
NY S09086
Bill
Status
Introduced
1/30/2026
Primary Sponsor
Anthony Palumbo
Click for details
AI Summary
- Defines "service animal" as individually trained to perform disability-related tasks and "emotional support animal" as providing therapeutic emotional support without specific task training
- Entitles persons with disabilities to reasonable housing accommodations for service animals or emotional support animals with documentation from a licensed physician, psychologist, or mental health counselor who has personal knowledge of the disability
- Allows landlords to reject documentation obtained solely through telehealth if the practitioner has not evaluated the person outside of telehealth services
- Restricts public access privileges (employment, public spaces) to service animals only, excluding emotional support animals from these protections
- Makes fraudulent misrepresentation of an animal as a service or emotional support animal for housing purposes a misdemeanor punishable by up to $500 fine and 30 hours of community service with a disability-serving organization
Legislative Description
Distinguishes the terms "service animal" and "emotional support animal"; provides that persons with a disability shall be entitled to reasonable housing accommodations for a service animal or emotional support animal, provided that they obtain documentation from a qualified practitioner; provides that certain privileges are restricted to persons with a service animal; provides that a person who fraudulently obtains documentation for a reasonable housing accommodation shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine and community service.
Last Action
REFERRED TO DISABILITIES
1/30/2026
Committee Referrals
Disabilities1/30/2026
Full Bill Text
No bill text available