S 769

112th CONGRESS
1st Session

S. 769

To amend title 38, United States Code, to prevent the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from prohibiting the use of service dogs on Department of Veterans Affairs property.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 8, 2011

Mr. HARKIN (for himself and Mr. ISAKSON) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to

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A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to prevent the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from prohibiting the use of service dogs on Department of Veterans Affairs property.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Veterans Equal Treatment for Service Dogs Act of 2011' or the `VETS Dogs Act of 2011'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:

(1) The usage of medical service dogs among veterans is increasing.

(2) The Department of Veterans Affairs currently allows seeing-eye dogs in Department facilities.

(3) The Department does not place any limitations on the access of seeing-eye dogs to Department facilities.

(4) Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12131 et seq. and 12181 et seq.) require that a public entity or place of public accommodation modify its policies, practices, and procedures to allow an individual with a disability to use a service animal.

SEC. 3. USE OF SERVICE DOGS ON PROPERTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

Section 1714 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

`(e) The Secretary may not prohibit the use of service dogs provided under subsection (c) in any facility or on any property of the Department or in any facility or on any property that receives funding from the Secretary.'.

END