02/04/1998 09:00 AM Senate HES

       HB 170 - SERVICE ANIMALS FOR PHYS/MENT. CHALLENGED                      
                                                                               
SENATOR LEMAN moved to adopt SCSCSHB 170(HES), version P, as the               
working document before the committee.  There being no objection,              
the motion carried.                                                            
                                                                               
TAPE 98-8, SIDE B                                                              
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN WILKEN explained the changes made in version P as follows.            
     - On page 2, line 21, language was added requiring that the               
     animal be identified as a training animal.                                
     - On page 2, lines 22, 23 and 25 limit the activity to public             
     facilities only, so this bill will not apply to private                   
     enterprises.                                                              
     - On page 2, lines 30 and 31, and page 3, lines 1 through 5,              
     lists justifiable reasons to ask a service animal to leave, as            
     well as two qualifications to defend that action.                         
     - On page 3, lines 9, 10, and 16 through 19, contain                      
     definitions.  Line 20 reduces the penalty from a misdemeanor              
     to a violation.                                                           
                                                                               
SENATOR ELLIS asked why the change to eliminate private facilities.            
CHAIRMAN WILKEN answered he agreed with the argument that private              
industry should be allowed to choose whether to comply, and not be             
required to do so.  The effort behind the bill is to train guide               
dogs, and State facilities can be used to provide the same types of            
experiences found in private facilities.                                       
                                                                               
JOE HAYES, staff to Representative Brice, sponsor of HB 170, agreed            
with the Chairman's description of the changes made to the bill,               
and the reasons for those changes.                                             
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN WILKEN took teleconference testimony.                                 
                                                                               
Number 555                                                                     
                                                                               
DARRELL CAMPBELL, Interim Director of the Center for Deaf Adults in            
Anchorage, stated support for HB 170 and urged the committee to                
move the bill out of committee.                                                
                                                                               
SUZANNE PRICE, a mental health professional, stated she is                     
affiliated with Leader Dogs, an organization based in Michigan, and            
the 4-H Club.  As a trainer of service animals, she is concerned               
about the elimination of private facilities because these                      
facilities amount to about 95 percent of the places trainers need              
to take animals.  The State of Nevada has similar legislation that             
regulates what people can do in private industry every day all day             
along.  Many of the stores that currently allow access in Alaska,              
such as Fred Meyer, could change their policy.  She asked that the             
phrase "place of public accommodation, or other place to which the             
general public is invited," be reinserted in the bill.                         
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN WILKEN advised Ms. Price that he has received a lot of                
comment on this issue, and that the important thing is that a bill             
be passed that allow some training to take place.  If the private              
industry requirement is kept in the bill, it will not advance                  
through this Legislature.  He suggested it is better to take "half             
a loaf" rather than none.                                                      
                                                                               
ROGER HANSEN, a 4-H Club Leader, agreed with Chairman Wilken that              
it is important to get a bill passed this session.                             
                                                                               
RUBY SCHMIDTBAUER, representing Guide Dogs, stated she owns a guide            
dog and submitted information about guide dogs for committee files.            
She agreed half a loaf is better than nothing, and urged passage of            
the bill.                                                                      
                                                                               
LINDA ATHONS, Coordinator of the Alaska Guide Dog Puppy Project,               
noted her disappointment about eliminating the private sector but              
appreciated the committee's effort to move the legislation.                    
                                                                               
RAE BAGGEN, representing Southeast Alaska Independent Living,                  
agreed that passage of this bill is better than no legislation, and            
thanked the committee for its effort.                                          
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN WILKEN announced a packet of faxes received by his office             
over the last few days regarding this legislation was placed in                
committee members' packets.  He noted Senators Leman, Taylor, and              
Wilken signed on as cross sponsors of this bill in the Senate.                 
                                                                               
BECKY RAWSEN, Southeast Alaska Independent Living Center (SAIL)                
testified, and informed committee members she is deaf.  She spoke              
in support of HB 170, and shared the following story with members              
to demonstrate the need to pass this bill.  As a person with                   
multiple disabilities, deafness and agoraphobia, it has been a                 
struggle to be independent because she relies on family members to             
accompany her everywhere.  Her family decided it would be a good               
investment to get a service animal but she could get no guarantees             
from trainers that a dog would be suitable for her disabilities and            
that she could get a dog in less than two to three years.  Her                 
family, residing in Idaho at the time,  decided to work with a                 
local trainer and a puppy.  When traveling on the ferry from                   
Bellingham to Juneau, she was not allowed to bring her dog on the              
ferry as a service animal although she had documentation.  She                 
urged the committee to support the bill so that people can keep                
their service dogs in training with them.                                      
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN WILKEN asked Ms. Rawsen what sorts of things guide dogs do            
for one who is deaf.  MS. RAWSEN replied a hearing ear dog will                
alert the deaf person if someone knocks on the door or when the                
telephone rings.  The dog actually comes to the person, and then               
goes to the source of the sound.  In an agoraphobic situation, the             
dog is a companion to help alleviate some of the fears of being in             
public.                                                                        
                                                                               
Number 430                                                                     
                                                                               
CHERYL HULL, SAIL, encouraged committee members to pass HB 170.                
She too was disappointed with some of the changes made, but is                 
grateful this bill might pass the Legislature this session.  She               
believed once State facilities allow dogs in training onto their               
premises, the private sector will follow suit.  While in a                     
wheelchair for the last 36 hours, she has realized how helpful it              
would be to have a service animal to retrieve items for her.                   
                                                                               
There being no further testimony or discussion, SENATOR LEMAN moved            
SCSCSHB 170(HES), version P, from committee with individual                    
recommendations and its zero fiscal note.  There being no                      
objection, the motion carried.