Maryland SB 299: County Boards of Education - Therapy Dogs - Policy for Handling and Use in Schools

Bill Text

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0299*

SENATE BILL 299
F1 6lr2084
SB 409/21 – EHE CF HB 128
By: Senators Hester, West, Beidle, Kagan, and Lewis Young
Introduced and read first time: January 21, 2026
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

County Boards of Education – Therapy Dogs – Policy for Handling and Use in 2
Schools 3

FOR the purpose of requiring each county board of education to allow, subject to certain 4
requirements and policies, the use of therapy dogs in public schools in the county; 5
and generally relating to therapy dogs in public schools. 6

BY adding to 7
Article – Education 8
Section 4–148 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13

Article – Education 14

4–148. 15

(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 16
INDICATED. 17

(2) “HANDLER” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO PROVIDES CARE AND 18
TRAINING FOR A THERAPY DOG. 19

(3) “THERAPY DOG” MEANS A DOG THAT IS: 20

(I) TRAINED TO PROVIDE AFFECTION AND COMFORT TO 21
CHILDREN WHO NEED EMOTIONAL SUPPORT IN A SCHOOL SETTING; AND 22

2 SENATE BILL 299

(II) CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED AS A THERAPY DOG. 1

(B) (1) A COUNTY BOARD SHALL ALLOW THE USE OF THERAPY DOGS IN 2
PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTY. 3

(2) EACH THERAPY DOG USED IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL SHALL BE 4
ACCOMPANIED BY A HANDLER. 5

(C) (1) EACH COUNTY BOARD SHALL ADOPT A POLICY FOR THE USE AND 6
HANDLING OF THERAPY DOGS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTY. 7

(2) THE POLICY REQUIRED UNDER THIS SUBSECTION SHALL 8
INCLUDE: 9

(I) LOCAL OR NATIONAL CERTIFICATION OR REGISTRATION 10
REQUIREMENTS FOR THERAPY DOGS; 11

(II) GUIDELINES FOR HANDLERS OF THERAPY DOGS; 12

(III) GUIDELINES FOR WHEN AND WHERE THERAPY DOGS AND 13
HANDLERS ARE ALLOWED IN SCHOOL BUILDINGS; 14

(IV) NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR PARENTS, STUDENTS, 15
AND SCHOOL FACULTY AND STAFF; AND 16

(V) GUIDELINES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF STUDENTS AND 17
STAFF WITH ALLERGIES TO DOGS OR WHO ARE UNCOMFORTABLE AROUND DOGS. 18

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 19
1, 2026. 20