USSDR Blog Banner

Texas Service Dog Laws

Texas Service Dog Laws

No Comments January 2, 2016

Definitions

Under Title 8, “Rights and Responsibilities of Persons with Disabilities:”

“Assistance animal” and “service animal” mean a canine that is specially trained or equipped to help a person with a disability and that is used by a person with a disability.

T. C. A., Human Resources Code § 121.002

Accommodation Law

A state employee who is a person with a disability is entitled to a leave of absence without a deduction in salary for the purpose of attending a training program to acquaint the employee with an assistance dog to be used by the employee.

T. C. A., Government Code § 661.910

No common carrier, airplane, railroad train, motor bus, streetcar, boat, or other public conveyance or mode of transportation operating within the state may refuse to accept as a passenger a person with a disability because of the person’s disability, nor may a person with a disability be required to pay an additional fare because of his or her use of a service animal.

No person with a disability may be denied admittance to any public facility in the state because of the person’s disability. No person with a disability may be denied the use assistance animal.

A person with a total or partial disability who has or obtains a service animal is entitled to full and equal access to all housing accommodations provided for in this section.
Provisions for equal access also applies to assistance animal in training.

T. C. A., Human Resources Code § 121.003

Violation is an offense.

An offense under this subsection is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $300 and 30 hours of community service.

The person with a disability deprived of his or her civil liberties may maintain a cause of action for damages in a court of competent jurisdiction, and there is a conclusive presumption of damages in the amount of at least $300 to the person with a disability.

VHarassment of/Interference with Service Dogs
Under Title 8, Rights and Responsibilities of Persons with Disabilities:

A person may not assault, harass, interfere with, kill, or injure in any way, or attempt to assault, harass, interfere with, kill, or injure in any way, an assistance animal.

T. C. A., Human Resources Code § 121.003

Violation is an offense.

An offense under this subsection is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $300 and 30 hours of community service.

The person with a disability deprived of his or her civil liberties may maintain a cause of action for damages in a court of competent jurisdiction, and there is a conclusive presumption of damages in the amount of at least $300 to the person with a disability.
T. C. A., Human Resources Code § 121.004

Penal Code:

A person commits an offense if the personintentionally, knowingly, or recklessly attacks, injures, or kills an assistance animal.

A person commits an offense if the personintentionally, knowingly, or recklessly incites or permits an animal owned by or otherwise in the custody of the actor to attack, injure, or kill an assistance animal and, as a result of the person’s conduct, the assistance animal is attacked, injured, or killed.

An offense under this section is a:

Violators also owe restitution.

T. C. A., Penal Code § 42.091

 . T. C. A., Human Resources Code § 121.004

Driving Law

The driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection or crosswalk where a pedestrian guided by an assistance animal is crossing or attempting to cross shall take necessary precautions to avoid injuring or endangering the pedestrian.

If at trial determined that collision caused serious bodily injury or death to a blind person, the offense is a misdemeanor punishable by:

  • a fine of not more than $500; and
  • 30 hours of community service to an organization or agency that primarily serves visually impaired or disabled persons, to be completed in not less than six months and not more than one year
  • portion of the community service required shall include sensitivity training

T. C. A., Transportation Code § 552.010

Fraudulent Representation

A person who uses an assistance animal with a harness or leash of the type commonly used by persons with disabilities to represent that his or her animal is a specially trained service animal when not trained as such, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Punishable by a fine of not more than $300 and 30 hours of community service.

T. C. A., Human Resources Code § 121.006

Preloader
X
SERVICE DOG ID CARD USA Service Animal Registration Your Service Dog ID card will include our convenient QR Code for a quick scan link to our registry lookup. By simply entering your dog\'s registration number your official registered profile will be accessible for quick verification in the event the validity of your service dog is ever questioned. 2054
$29.99
Product Image
5 12634
- by , March 25, 2011
1/ 1stars
Horrible. My letter wasn't accepted and I am forced to live somewhere else now. Never again.
Great experience - by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
Overall easy to purchase and register.
One more step - by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
I will be satisfied when I get a fax number to send my apartment complex paperwork to be filled out
Did not receive order - by , March 25, 2011
1/ 1stars
I made a purchase on 3/9/2023 and it is now 3/23/2023 and I have yet to receive my package in the mail. I also can not get ahold of anyone at the company to check on my order.
Very thin - by , March 25, 2011
3/ 3stars
The vest is thin, not sure how long it will hold up. Love the cards tho they are nice and help show registration
Housing Letter - by , March 25, 2011
3/ 3stars
Well, they did email my letter, although my understanding was to also send a hardcopy in the mail. I never received this. I paid serious money, with a budget of disability so no choice but to send this disgruntled review
Dog tags - by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
Great I love how fast you receive service
- by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
I did not see a place to unload my photo
Great Customer Service - by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
Excellent and gentle people. Caring and Loving Staff
amazing great nice perfect - by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
Perfect service awesome experience
Teronica - by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
It was nothing less than amazing. Very sweet therapist , very kind & understanding
Excellent Service - by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
You were very helpful as I worked on the registration and determined what to order. Thank you very much to Carolyn and Lori for their email and phone assistance.
Great experiences - by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
The vest is very lightweight and fits my dog perfectly. Thank you for helping in this process
Exceptional Service - by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
Great, thorough
Great Customer Service - by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
Great customer service. expedient process, easy to access resources
USA Service Dog Registration - by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
USA SDR ia a wonderful company. They're quick to respond and make purchases easy, quick . The instructions and explanation are to the letter. This is the third time I have used them. If in the future I need a new dog registered I will only use them.
Easy to complete - by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
Great ! This site made it so easy to complete
UsA Service Dog Registration - by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
What a great experience. Everything was straight forward and easy to use. Got my card within 3 days of ordering
Order Correction - by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
I made a mistake and ordered the Deluxe ESA package and included the letter I didn't need. With a Very quickly returned - Super friendly, helpful and Honest phone call, the matter was resolved and my order was edited and will be out to me ASAP. Please thank her for me on behalf of me and my partner Blue! The speed of everything was great, but the Kindness of my agent- I can't remember her name! - was Unreal.
- by , March 25, 2011
1/ 1stars
Good have not. Received card yet