Sec. 48-8. Service animal access.

226 words·~1 min read·/il/chapter-720/act-5/48-8

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(a)When a person with a physical, mental, or intellectual disability requiring the use of a service animal is accompanied by a service animal or when a trainer of a service animal is accompanied by a service animal, neither the person nor the service animal shall be denied the right of entry and use of facilities of any public place of accommodation as defined in Section 5-101 of the Illinois Human Rights Act.

For the purposes of this Section, "service animal" means a dog or miniature horse trained or being trained as a hearing animal, a guide animal, an assistance animal, a seizure alert animal, a mobility animal, a psychiatric service animal, an autism service animal, or an animal trained for any other physical, mental, or intellectual disability. "Service animal" includes a miniature horse that a public place of accommodation shall make reasonable accommodation so long as the public place of accommodation takes into consideration:

(1)the type, size, and weight of the miniature horse and whether the facility can accommodate its features;

(2)whether the handler has sufficient control of the miniature horse;

(3)whether the miniature horse is housebroken; and

(4)whether the miniature horse's presence in the facility compromises legitimate safety requirements necessary for operation.

(b)A person who knowingly violates this Section commits a Class C misdemeanor.