New York Considers Creating Offense of Misrepresenting Companion Animal as Service Animal for Personal Benefit

New York Senate Bill 5919 would establish the offense of misrepresenting a companion animal as a service animal for personal benefit, defined as when an individual “expressly or impliedly represents that an animal in his or her possession is a service animal for the purpose of obtaining any rights or privileges afforded to a person with a disability requiring the assistance of a service animal.” Violation would be punishable by a $250 fine.