FIRST EDITION Service and Assistance Animals in Oregon ©2013 Disability Rights Oregon Address: 610 SW Broadway, Suite 200, Portland OR 97205 Voice: 503-243-2081 or 1-800-452-1694 Fax: 503-243-1738 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.droregon.org Written 2013 by Esther Harlow, Advocate Kathy Wilde, Attorney With sections reproduced from the U.S. Department of Justice publication “Service Animals,” and the Disability Rights Oregon publications “Fair Housing Handbook” and “Employment Handbook.” The contents of this guide are solely the responsibility of Disability Rights Oregon. Disability Rights Oregon is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are tax-deductible and will be used to promote the rights of Oregonians with disabilities. Portions of this Guide may be reproduced without permission, provided Disability Rights Oregon is appropriately credited. Notice: The purpose of this publication is to provide general information to individuals regarding their rights and protections under the law. This publication is not a substitute for legal advice. Federal and state law can change at any time. Contact Disability Rights Oregon or consult with an attorney in your community if you need additional help. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................. 6 GENERAL GUIDELINES ..................................................................... 7 AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (“ADA”) ............................... 8 Where does it apply? ............................................................................8 What animals are allowed under the law? ..........................................8 What service must the animal provide?..............................................8 OREGON STATE LAW....................................................................... 9 Where does it apply? ............................................................................9 What animals are allowed under the law? ..........................................9 What service must the animal provide?..............................................9 PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS....................................................... 10 What can I be asked?..........................................................................10 Can I be charged? ...............................................................................10 How can I file a complaint? ................................................................10 PUBLIC PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES ......................... 12 What can I be asked?..........................................................................12 Can I be charged? ...............................................................................12 How can I file a complaint? ................................................................12 PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION........................................................... 13 What can I be asked?..........................................................................13 Can I be charged? ...............................................................................13 3 How can I file a complaint? ................................................................13 PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION ......................................................... 14 What can I be asked?..........................................................................14 Can I be charged? ...............................................................................14 How can I file a complaint? ................................................................14 EMPLOYMENT ................................................................................ 15 What can I be asked?..........................................................................15 How do I request a reasonable accommodation?............................15 How can I file a complaint? ................................................................16 AIR CARRIER ACCESS ACT ............................................................. 17 Where does it apply? ..........................................................................17 What can I be asked?..........................................................................17 Can I be charged? ...............................................................................17 How can I file a complaint? ................................................................17 FAIR HOUSING ACT....................................................................... 18 Where does it apply? ..........................................................................18 What animals are allowed under the law? ........................................19 What service must the animal provide?............................................19 What can I be asked?..........................................................................19 Can I be charged? ...............................................................................19 How do I request a reasonable accommodation?............................20 How can I file a complaint? ................................................................20 4 APPENDIX ....................................................................................... 21 Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) – Civil Rights Division.......21 Equal Employment Opportunity Commission..............................................21 Fair Housing Council of Oregon..................................................................21 US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – Oregon ......22 Aviation Consumer Protection Division.......................................................22 Federal Transit Administration, Office of Civil Rights..................................23 Oregon State Bar Lawyer Referral Service.................................................23 5 INTRODUCTION People who use service animals are protected from discrimination under several different laws: . Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) . Air Carrier Access Act (“ACAA”) . Fair Housing Act (“FHA”), and . Oregon state law. Each law governs different places or services. Each law has a different definition of service or companion animals. Definitions . Disability: A physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities. Service animal: An animal which is trained to do a task or service directly related to a disability. Oregon state law also uses “assistance animal.” . Companion animal: An animal that provides emotional support, comfort or companionship. 6 GENERAL GUIDELINES Some guidelines are the same for all of these laws: . Fees or pet deposits cannot be charged for service animals or companion animals. o A service animal is not considered a pet. A person using a service animal cannot be turned away because of a “no pet” rule. You must maintain control of your service or companion animal at all times. o Your service animal must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other people. Your animal must comply with state and county animal control laws. There is no formal certification process or paperwork recognized by the state or federal government. o However, air carriers, employers and housing providers may require specific documentation; see those sections of this guide for more details. Vests, tags, and other “working animal” accessories are not legally required or recognized, but may make it easier for other people to identify a service animal. o Some counties may allow you to register your animal as a “service animal” rather than a pet, and waive or reduce their animal licensure fees. Contact your county animal control for more information. 7 AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (“ADA”) The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, transportation, public accommodation, communications, and governmental activities. Where does it apply? . places of public accommodation . public services, programs and activities . public transportation . private transportation . the workplace What animals are allowed under the law? Under the ADA, service animals are defined as dogs. It also includes miniature horses under certain conditions. What service must the animal provide? Service animals must be individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to your disability. Examples include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person with a seizure disorder, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, guiding a person with a mental illness out the room during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Companion animals do not qualify as service animals under Titles II or III of the ADA, but may be approved as a reasonable accommodation under Title I. 8 OREGON STATE LAW Oregon state law was recently changed to reflect Titles II and III of the ADA. It also recognizes service animals that are in training. Where does it apply? . places of public accommodation . public services, programs and activities . state government services, programs and activities . public transportation . private transportation What animals are allowed under the law? A dog or other animal designated by administrative rule. What service must the animal provide? Service animals must be individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with