Summary: The following statutes comprise the state's relevant assistance animal and guide dog laws.
Title 46A. Human Rights. Chapter 814B. Mobility Impaired Persons.
§ 46a-42 . "Mobility impaired persons" defined
§ 46a-44 . Access of guide and assistance dogs to modes of public transportation and in places of public accommodation
Title 46A. Human Rights. Chapter 814C. Human Rights and Opportunities. Part II. Discriminatory Practices.
§ 46a-64 . Discriminatory public accommodations practices prohibited. Penalty
§ 17a-22ee. Animal-assisted therapy. Volunteer canine crisis response team. Crisis response program
§ 14-300. Crosswalks. Pedestrian-control signals. Regulation of pedestrians and motor vehicles at crosswalks. Pedestrians who are blind or have guide dogs
Title 46A. Human Rights. Chapter 814B. Mobility Impaired Persons.
§ 46a-42. "Mobility impaired persons" defined
For purposes of sections 22-345, 46a-44 and 46a-64: "Mobility impaired person" means any person, regardless of age, who is subject to a physiological defect or deficiency regardless of its cause, nature or extent that renders the person unable to move about without the aid of crutches, a wheelchair or any other form of support, or that limits the person's functional ability to ambulate, climb, descend, sit or rise or to perform any related function.
CREDIT(S)
(1958 Rev., § 22-345a; 1985, P.A. 85-289, § 3; 1988, P.A. 88-364, § 31, eff. June 8, 1988; 1995, P.A. 95-33, § 1.)
§ 46a-44. Access of guide and assistance dogs to modes of public transportation and in places of public accommodation
(a) Any blind, deaf or mobility impaired person or any person training a dog as a guide dog for a blind person or an assistance dog to assist a deaf or mobility impaired person may travel on a train or on any other mode of public transportation, and may enter any other place of public accommodation which caters or offers its services or facilities or goods to the general public, including but not limited to, any public building, inn, restaurant, hotel, motel, tourist cabin, place of amusement, resort or any facility of any such public accommodation, accompanied by such person's guide dog or assistance dog, and such person may keep such dog with him or her at all times in any such public accommodation or facility thereof at no extra charge, provided such dog shall be in the direct custody of such person and shall be wearing a harness or an orange-colored leash and collar.
(b) Any blind, deaf or mobility impaired person or any person training a dog as a guide dog for a blind person or an assistance dog to assist a deaf or mobility impaired person shall be entitled to visit any place of public accommodation, resort or amusement or a dwelling as a guest of a lawful occupant thereof, accompanied by such person's guide dog or assistance dog, and such person may keep such dog with him or her at all times in such public accommodation, resort, amusement or dwelling at no extra charge, provided such dog shall be in the direct custody of such person and shall be wearing a harness or an orange-colored leash and collar. No such blind, deaf or mobility impaired person or person training a dog as a guide dog or an assistance dog shall be charged any fee not applicable alike to all guests, provided the owner of such dog shall be liable for any damage done to the premises or facilities by such dog. For the purposes of this subsection, (1) a “place of public accommodation, resort or amusement” means any establishment which caters or offers its services or facilities or goods to the general public, including, but not limited to, any commercial building lot, on which it is intended that a commercial property or building will be constructed or offered for sale or rent, and (2) “dwelling” means any building, structure, mobile manufactured home park or portion thereof which is occupied as, or designed or intended for occupancy as, a residence by one or more families, and any vacant land which is offered for sale or lease for the construction or location thereon of any such building, structure, mobile manufactured home park or portion thereof, provided the provisions of this subsection shall not apply to (A) the rental of a room or rooms in a single-family dwelling unit, if the owner actually maintains and occupies part of such living quarters as the owner's residence or (B) a unit in a dwelling containing living quarters occupied or intended to be occupied by no more than two families living independently of each other, if the owner actually maintains and occupies the other such living quarters as the owner's residence.
(c) Any person who intentionally interferes with a blind, deaf or mobility impaired person's use of a guide dog or an assistance dog, including, but not limited to, any action intended to harass or annoy the blind, deaf or mobility impaired person, the person training a dog as a guide dog or assistance dog or the guide dog or assistance dog, or who denies the rights afforded to a blind, deaf or mobility impaired person or person training a dog as a guide dog or an assistance dog under subsection (a) or (b) of this section shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor, provided such blind, deaf or mobility impaired person or person training a dog as a guide dog or an assistance dog complies with the applicable provisions of subsection (a) or (b) of this section.
(d) For the purposes of this section, “guide dog” or “assistance dog” includes a dog being trained as a guide dog or assistance dog and “person training a dog as a guide dog for a blind person or an assistance dog to assist a deaf or mobility impaired person” means a person who is employed by and authorized to engage in designated training activities by a guide dog organization or assistance dog organization that complies with the criteria for membership in a professional association of guide dog or assistance dog schools and who carries photographic identification indicating such employment and authorization, or a person who volunteers for a guide dog organization or assistance dog organization that authorizes such volunteers to raise dogs to become guide dogs or assistance dogs and causes the identification of such dog with (1) identification tags, (2) ear tattoos, (3) identifying bandanas on puppies, (4) identifying coats on adult dogs, or (5) leashes and collars.
Credits
(1958 Rev., § 22-346a; 1963, P.A. 641, § 1; 1973, P.A. 73-279, § 3; 1976, P.A. 76-49, § 2; 1985, P.A. 85-289, § 6; 1989, P.A. 89-21, § 1; 1992, P.A. 92-257, § 5; 1997, P.A. 97-141, § 1; 2004, P.A. 04-71, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2005; 2017, P.A. 17-102, § 1.)
Title 46A. Human Rights. Chapter 814C. Human Rights and Opportunities. Part II. Discriminatory Practices.
§ 46a-64. Discriminatory public accommodations practices prohibited. Penalty
(a) It shall be a discriminatory practice in violation of this section: (1) To deny any person within the jurisdiction of this state full and equal accommodations in any place of public accommodation, resort or amusement because of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, lawful source of income, intellectual disability, mental disability, physical disability, including, but not limited to, blindness or deafness, or status as a veteran, of the applicant, subject only to the conditions and limitations established by law and applicable alike to all persons; (2) to discriminate, segregate or separate on account of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, lawful source of income, intellectual disability, mental disability, learning disability, physical disability, including, but not limited to, blindness or deafness, or status as a veteran; (3) for a place of public accommodation, resort or amusement to restrict or limit the right of a mother to breast-feed her child; (4) for a place of public accommodation, resort or amusement to fail or refuse to post a notice, in a conspicuous place, that any blind, deaf or mobility impaired person, accompanied by his guide dog wearing a harness or an orange-colored leash and collar, may enter such premises or facilities; or (5) to deny any blind, deaf or mobility impaired person or any person training a dog as a guide dog for a blind person or a dog to assist a deaf or mobility impaired person, accompanied by his guide dog or assistance dog, full and equal access to any place of public accommodation, resort or amusement. Any blind, deaf or mobility impaired person or any person training a dog as a guide dog for a blind person or a dog to assist a deaf or mobility impaired person may keep his guide dog or assistance dog with him at all times in such place of public accommodation, resort or amusement at no extra charge, provided the dog wears a harness or an orange-colored leash and collar and is in the direct custody of such person. The blind, deaf or mobility impaired person or person training a dog as a guide dog for a blind person or a dog to assist a deaf or mobility impaired person shall be liable for any damage done to the premises or facilities by his dog. For purposes of this subdivision, “guide dog” or “assistance dog” includes a dog being trained as a guide dog or assistance dog and “person training a dog as a guide dog for a blind person or a dog to assist a deaf or mobility impaired person” means a person who is employed by and authorized to engage in designated training activities by a guide dog organization or assistance dog organization that complies with the criteria for membership in a professional association of guide dog or assistance dog schools and who carries photographic identification indicating such employment and authorization.
(b) (1) The provisions of this section with respect to the prohibition of sex discrimination shall not apply to (A) the rental of sleeping accommodations provided by associations and organizations which rent all such sleeping accommodations on a temporary or permanent basis for the exclusive use of persons of the same sex or (B) separate bathrooms or locker rooms based on sex. (2) The provisions of this section with respect to the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of age shall not apply to minors or to special discount or other public or private programs to assist persons sixty years of age and older. (3) The provisions of this section with respect to the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of physical disability shall not require any person to modify his property in any way or provide a higher degree of care for a physically disabled person, including, but not limited to blind or deaf persons, than for a person not physically disabled. (4) The provisions of this section with respect to the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of creed shall not apply to the practice of granting preference in admission of residents into a nursing home as defined in section 19a-490, if (A) the nursing home is owned, operated by or affiliated with a religious organization, exempt from taxation for federal income tax purposes and (B) the class of persons granted preference in admission is consistent with the religious mission of the nursing home. (5) The provisions of this section with respect to the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of lawful source of income shall not prohibit the denial of full and equal accommodations solely on the basis of insufficient income.
(c) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a class D misdemeanor.
Credits
(1949 Rev., § 8375; 1949, Supp. § 691a; 1953, Supp. § 2464c; 1955, Supp. § 3267d; 1958 Rev., § 53-35; 1959, P.A. 113; 1961, P.A. 472, §§ 1, 2; 1963, P.A. 594; 1965, Feb.Sp.Sess., P.A. 141; 1967, P.A. 177, § 1; 1972, P.A. 186, § 15; 1973, P.A. 73-119; 1973, P.A. 73-279, § 6; 1974, P.A. 74-205; 1975, P.A. 75-323; 1976, P.A. 76-49, § 3; 1977, P.A. 77-604, § 37, eff. July 6, 1977; 1978, P.A. 78-148, § 12; 1979, P.A. 79-186; 1980, P.A. 80-422, § 12; 1980, P.A. 80-483, § 135, eff. June 6, 1980; 1985, P.A. 85-289, § 7; 1985, P.A. 85-512, § 5; 1988, P.A. 88-114; 1988, P.A. 88-288; 1989, P.A. 89-21, § 2; 1989, P.A. 89-288, § 2; 1990, P.A. 90-230, § 63, eff. June 8, 1990; 1990, P.A. 90-246, § 3; 1990, P.A. 90-330, § 4, eff. July 1, 1990; 1994, P.A. 94-238, § 4, eff. July 1, 1994; 1997, P.A. 97-141, § 2; 1997, P.A. 97-210, § 1; 2007, P.A. 07-217, § 167, eff. July 12, 2007; 2011, P.A. 11-55, § 25; 2011, P.A. 11-129, § 20; 2012, P.A. 12-80, § 94; 2017, P.A. 17-127, § 5.)
(b) Any person who denies the rights afforded to active individual members of a volunteer canine search and rescue team under subsection (a) of this section shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor, provided such individual member complies with the applicable provisions of subsection (a) of this section.
CREDIT(S)
(2004, P.A. 04-241, § 5.)
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Title 22. Agriculture. Domestic Animals. Chapter 435. Dogs and Other Companion Animals. Kennels and Pet Shops
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(a) For purposes of this section:
(2013, P.A. 13-114, § 1; 2015, P.A. 15-208, § 1, eff. July 6, 2015.)
1 C.G.S.A. § 20-8a et seq.
2 C.G.S.A. § 20-186 et seq.
3 C.G.S.A. § 20-195a et seq.
4 C.G.S.A. § 20-195m et seq.
(a) The traffic authority shall have power to designate, by appropriate official traffic control devices, as defined in section 14-297, or markers, or by lines upon the surface of the highway, such crosswalks and intersections as, in its opinion, constitute a danger to pedestrians crossing the highway including, but not limited to, specially marked crosswalks in the vicinity of schools, which crosswalks shall have distinctive markings, in accordance with the regulations of the Office of the State Traffic Administration, to denote use of such crosswalks by school children; and may maintain suitable signs located at intervals along highways, particularly where there are no sidewalks, directing pedestrians to walk facing vehicular traffic.
(b) At any intersection where special pedestrian-control signals bearing the words “Walk” or “Don't Walk” are placed, pedestrians may cross the highway only as indicated by the signal. At any intersection where traffic is controlled by other traffic control signals or by police officers, pedestrians shall not cross the highway against a red or “Stop” signal and shall not cross at any place not a marked or unmarked crosswalk. A pedestrian started or starting across the highway on a “Walk” signal or on any such crosswalk on a green or “Go” signal shall have the right-of-way over all vehicles, including those making turns, until such pedestrian has reached the opposite curb or safety zone.
(c) Except as provided in subsection (c) of section 14-300c, at any crosswalk marked as provided in subsection (a) of this section or any unmarked crosswalk, provided such crosswalks are not controlled by police officers or traffic control signals, each operator of a vehicle shall grant the right-of-way, and slow or stop such vehicle if necessary to so grant the right-of-way, to any pedestrian crossing the roadway within such crosswalk, provided such pedestrian steps off the curb or into the crosswalk at the entrance to a crosswalk or is within that half of the roadway upon which such operator of a vehicle is traveling, or such pedestrian steps off the curb or into the crosswalk at the entrance to a crosswalk or is crossing the roadway within such crosswalk from that half of the roadway upon which such operator is not traveling. No operator of a vehicle approaching from the rear shall overtake and pass any vehicle, the operator of which has stopped at any crosswalk marked as provided in subsection (a) of this section or any unmarked crosswalk to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway. The operator of any vehicle crossing a sidewalk shall yield the right-of-way to each pedestrian and all other traffic upon such sidewalk.
(d) The operator of a motor vehicle who approaches or comes into the immediate vicinity of a pedestrian who is blind, as defined in subsection (a) of section 1-1f, carrying a white cane or a white cane tipped with red, or a pedestrian being guided by a guide dog, shall reduce speed or stop, if necessary, to yield the right-of-way to such pedestrian. No person, except one who is blind, shall carry or use on any street or highway, or in any other public place, a cane or walking stick which is white in color or white, tipped with red.
(e) Any crosswalk designated by a traffic authority on or after October 1, 2010, pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be required by such authority to have markings, signage, or any control signals deemed necessary by such authority to provide sufficient time for the safe crossing of pedestrians.
(f) The operator of any motor vehicle who violates this section shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars.
(g) In any civil action arising under subsection (c) or (d) of this section or sections 14-300b to 14-300d, inclusive, the doctrine of negligence per se shall not apply.
Credits
(1949 Rev., § 2519; 1955, Supp. § 1403d; 1967, P.A. 639; 1978, P.A. 78-309, § 2; 1994, P.A. 94-189, § 33, eff. July 1, 1994; 2000, P.A. 00-196, § 13; 2007, P.A. 07-167, § 26, eff. July 1, 2007; 2008, P.A. 08-150, § 32; 2010, P.A. 10-159, § 9; 2012, P.A. 12-132, § 30, eff. July 1, 2012; 2016, P.A. 16-54, § 1.)