Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Expanding Access for Veterans’ Service Animals Act”.
Expanding Access for Veterans’ Service Animals Act
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that a service animal of a patient receiving inpatient medical care at a medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs is able to access the room of the patient.
Sec. 2 Access of service animals at medical facilities of Department of Veterans Affairs
Sense of Congress— It is the sense of Congress that—
certified therapeutic animals should be provided the same access to facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs as service animals; and
to ensure such access, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should create and implement a certification process for therapeutic animals that mitigate the effects of a medically diagnosed mental health condition.
Access of service animals to medical facilities— Section 901(f) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and
by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph (2):
“(2)
“(A) Except as provided by subparagraph (B), the Secretary may not prohibit a covered service dog, or any other service animal that is allowed to access medical facilities of the Department, of a patient who is receiving inpatient care at a medical facility of the Department from accessing the room of the patient, including with respect to staying overnight.
“(B) In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Secretary may prescribe regulations to ensure the safety and health of employees of the Department, patients, and the public, including by requiring that a patient maintain responsibility for the covered service dog or service animal.”