Current Legislation - Dec. 5, 2011

Medically Recommended Service Animals: S-1797 (Norcross)/A-1718 (Burzichelli, Spencer, Prieto, Moriarty, Fuentes). On December 5, the Assembly approved S-1797 by a vote of 78-0-0. The Assembly substituted S-1797 for A-1718, an identical bill. The legislation would allow a student with a disability to bring a service animal to school. The bill would also provide conditions under which a school official may question the need for a service animal; allow a school official to require certification of the service animal’s health and documentation of proper licensing; and, stipulate that the school is not responsible for the service animal’s care or supervision, but that the school make reasonable accommodations. This legislation has to go back to the Senate for concurrence with Assembly amendments. NJEA supports the bill.