New York S 9086: Relates to service animals and emotional support animals

Bill Text

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S09086 Summary:

BILL NOS09086 

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORPALUMBO

&nbsp

COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Amd Art 4-B Art Head, §§47-b, 47, 47-a & 47-c, Civ Rts L; add §227-g, RP L; amd §223-b, Pub Hous L

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Distinguishes the terms "service animal" and "emotional support animal"; provides that persons with a disability shall be entitled to reasonable housing accommodations for a service animal or emotional support animal, provided that they obtain documentation from a qualified practitioner; provides that certain privileges are restricted to persons with a service animal; provides that a person who fraudulently obtains documentation for a reasonable housing accommodation shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine and community service.

Go to top S09086 Actions:

BILL NOS09086 

&nbsp

01/30/2026REFERRED TO DISABILITIES

Go to topS09086 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS09086 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS09086 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 9086

 IN SENATE

 January 30, 2026
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. PALUMBO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Disabilities

 AN ACT to amend the civil rights law, the real property law and the
 public housing law, in relation to service animals and emotional
 support animals

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. The article heading of article 4-B of the civil rights law,
 2 as amended by chapter 404 of the laws of 1986, is amended to read as
 3 follows:
 4 RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH A [DISABILITY
 5 ACCOMPANIED BY GUIDE DOGS,
 6 HEARING DOGS OR SERVICE DOGS]
 7 SERVICE ANIMAL OR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL
 8 § 2. Section 47-b of the civil rights law is amended by adding two new
 9 subdivisions 8 and 9 to read as follows:
 10 8. For the purposes of this article, the term "service animal" means
 11 an animal that is individually trained to perform tasks for a person
 12 with a disability, where such tasks are directly related to such
 13 person's disability, and shall include, but not be limited to, guide
 14 dogs, hearing dogs, and service dogs.
 15 9. For the purposes of this article, the term "emotional support
 16 animal" means an animal that provides therapeutic emotional support to
 17 an individual with a disability, for the purpose of alleviating one or
 18 more identified symptoms or effects, but that has not necessarily been
 19 trained to perform any specific tasks.
 20 § 3. The real property law is amended by adding a new section 227-g to
 21 read as follows:
 22 § 227-g. Housing accommodations for service animals and emotional
 23 support animals. 1. For the purposes of this section, the following
 24 terms shall have the following meanings:
 25 (a) "Service animal" shall have the same meaning as defined by section
 26 forty-seven-b of the civil rights law.
 27 (b) "Emotional support animal" shall have the same meaning as defined
 28 by section forty-seven-b of the civil rights law.
 29 (c) "Disability" shall have the same meaning as defined by section
 30 forty-seven-b of the civil rights law.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD14590-01-6

 S. 9086 2

 1 (d) "Qualified practitioner" shall mean a physician licensed under
 2 article one hundred thirty-one of the education law, a psychologist
 3 licensed under article one hundred fifty-three of the education law, or
 4 a mental health counselor licensed under article one hundred sixty-three
 5 of the education law.
 6 2. (a) A person with a disability shall be entitled to reasonable
 7 housing accommodations to accommodate such person's service animal or
 8 emotional support animal; provided, however that the landlord may
 9 require such person to provide documentation from a qualified practi-
 10 tioner who has personal knowledge of such person's disability and such
 11 person's need for such service animal or emotional support animal.
 12 (b) A landlord may reject documentation submitted by a person with a
 13 disability pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subdivision that was
 14 obtaine