Section 46a-44 - [Effective 7/1/2024] (Formerly Sec. 22-346a). Access of guide and assistance dogs to modes of public transportation and in places of public accommodation. Intentional interference with guide or assistance dogs or trainers or blind, deaf or mobility impaired persons(a) As used in this section, (1) "disability" and "service animal" have the same meanings as provided in section 22-345; and (2) "person training an animal as a service animal" means a person who (A) (i) is employed by an organization that trains service animals, (ii) complies with the criteria for membership in a professional association of schools that train service animals, (iii) is authorized to engage in designated training activities, and (iv) carries photographic identification indicating such employment and authorization, or (B) volunteers for an organization that (i) trains service animals, and (ii) authorizes volunteers to raise animals to become service animals.(b) Any person with a disability or any person training an animal as a service animal to assist a person with a disability may travel on a train or on any other mode of public transportation, and may enter any other place of public accommodation that 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 service animal, and such person may keep such service animal with him or her at all times in any such public accommodation or facility thereof at no extra charge, provided such service animal shall be in the direct custody and control of such person. (c) Any person with a disability or any person training an animal as a service animal for a person with a disability 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 service animal, and such person may keep such service animal with him or her at all times in such public accommodation, resort, amusement or dwelling at no extra charge, provided such service animal shall be in the direct custody and control of such person. No such person with a disability or person training an animal as a service animal shall be charged any fee not applicable alike to all guests, provided the owner of such service animal shall be liable for any damage done to the premises or facilities by such service animal. 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.(d) Any person who intentionally interferes with the use of a service animal by a person with a disability, including, but not limited to, any action intended to harass or annoy the person with a disability or the person training an animal as a service animal, or who denies the rights afforded to a person with a disability or person training an animal as a service animal under subsection (b) or (c) of this section shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor, provided such person with a disability or person training an animal as a service animal complies with the applicable provisions of subsection (b) or (c) of this section. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46a-44
(1963, P.A. 641, S. 1; P.A. 73-279, S. 3; P.A. 76-49, S. 2; P.A. 85-289, S. 6; P.A. 89-21, S. 1; P.A. 92-257 , S. 5 ; P.A. 97-141 , S. 1 ; P.A. 04-71 , S. 1 ; P.A. 17-102 , S. 1 .)
Amended by P.A. 24-0018,S. 11 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2024 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2024.Amended by P.A. 17-0102, S. 1 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2017 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2017.This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments. See Sec. 1-1f for definition of blindness. See Sec. 53-330a for like provisions re search and rescue dogs.