The “miniature horse bill,” H2401 (service animals; definition) was addressed this week by Arizona legislators. The bill would classify miniature horses as service animals, mirroring the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to the Yellow Sheet.
The bill would eliminate classification of “other animals” as service animals, at the request of the Arizona Restaurant Association which says that the classification is too vague and has lead to serious problems, including people bringing “service rats” into restaurants, reports the Yellow Sheet.
Representative Heather Carter (R-District 15) offered the bill due to the fact that the list of animals being passed off as service animals is too long, and the bill would narrow the definition. Carter said, “Squirrels, ferrets, rabbits, boa constrictors, cats, monkeys, rats – rats was a huge comment that was brought up in testimony… So, if you vote against the bill, you’re allowing rats in restaurants, if you vote for the bill, you’re allowing dogs and miniature horses only.”
Although Carter’s comment was intended as a joke, Representative Brenda Barton (R-District 6)noted that miniature horses are included in the federal law, and that business owners are only allowed to ask a few pointed questions of people with service animals, and not ask for documentation for the animal, according to the Yellow Sheet reporter.
To which Carter responded, “Like you, I understand that the federal government puts a lot of constraints on what we do in the state and there’s a Tenth Amendment concern, absolutely, but I don’t want rats in restaurants.”
Representative John Kavanagh (R-District 23) said he understood the need for the Legislature to address the issue but felt that the federal guidelines were absurd and the need to address them was absurd. “It’s really a damn shame when it comes to this. At what point does the federal government accommodate the rest of us? Because, frankly, I don’t think most people are going to be too pleased when they’re in a nice restaurant and a miniature horse sits next to them. It’s just absurd.”