[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 1902

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MAY 6, 1996

By Assemblyman T. SMITH

An Act concerning ¹[retail establishments and] places of public accommodation,¹ municipal, county and State ¹[buildings] facilities, certain public utilities ¹ and service ¹[or guide dogs] animals¹ and supplementing ¹[ P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.) and]¹ P.L.1971, c.130 (¹C.¹ 10:5-29 et seq.) ¹and R.S.48:3-33¹ .

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. a. A ¹[retail establishment] place of public accommodation, as defined in section 5 of P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-5),¹ shall prominently display a sign which states that a person with a disability who is accompanied by a service ¹[or guide dog] animal¹ is entitled to have access to the ¹[establishment] place¹. The sign shall be ¹conspicuously¹ displayed in an area readily accessible to the public and ¹[its content] the sign¹ shall ¹[be easily readable by a person of normal vision. The sign shall also be displayed in braille] conform to regulations adopted by the Division on Civil Rights¹.

    b. A person who violates the requirements of this section shall be subject to penalties pursuant to P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.).

    ¹c. As used in this section:

    "Disability" means, with respect to an individual, a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of the individual; and

    "Service animal" means a guide dog, signal dog or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability.¹

    2. a. A municipal, county or State ¹[building] facility¹ shall prominently display a sign which states that a person with a disability who is accompanied by a service ¹[or guide dog] animal¹ is entitled to have access to the ¹[building] facility¹ . The sign shall be ¹conspicuously¹ displayed in an area readily accessible to the public and ¹[its content] the sign¹ shall ¹[be easily readable by a person of normal vision. The sign shall also be displayed in braille] conform to regulations adopted by the Division on Civil Rights¹.

    b. The municipal, county or State entity responsible for the ¹[building] facility¹ shall be responsible for complying with the provisions of this section.

    ¹c. As used in this section:

    "Disability" means, with respect to an individual, a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of the individual; and

    "Service animal" means a guide dog, signal dog or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability.¹

    ¹[3. Pursuant to the provisions of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs shall adopt regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. )(pending before the Legislature as this bill).]¹

    ¹3. A bus or other public utility, as defined in R.S.48:2-13, engaged in transportation of passengers shall prominently display a sign which states that a person with a disability who is accompanied by a service animal is entitled to have access to the public utility. The sign shall be conspicuously displayed in an area readily accessible to the public and the sign shall conform to regulations adopted by the Division on Civil Rights.

    b. The public utility shall be responsible for complying with the provisions of this section.

    c. As used in this section:

    "Disability" means, with respect to an individual, a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of the individual; and

    "Service animal" means a guide dog, signal dog or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability.¹

    4. Pursuant to the provisions of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), the Director of the Division of Civil Rights in the Department of Law and Public Safety

shall adopt regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. )(pending before the Legislature as this bill).

    ¹5. Pursuant to the provisions of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), the Board of Public Utilities shall adopt regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of section 3 of P.L. , c. (C. )(pending before the Legislature as this bill).¹

    ¹[5.] 6.¹ This act shall take effect immediately.

Requires places of public accommodation, public facilities and certain public utilities to display sign requiring access to a person with a disability accompanied by a service animal.