SERVICE ANIMALS-ACCOMMODATIONS

Creates the Assistance and Service Animal Integrity Act. Provides that a landlord who receives a request from a person to make an exception to the landlord's policy prohibiting animals on the landlord's property because the person requires the use of an assistance animal or service animal may require the person to produce reliable documentation, which may be a standardized form, of the disability and disability-related need for the animal only if the disability or disability-related need is not readily apparent or known to the landlord. Provides that a landlord may require additional supporting documentation when necessary to evaluate the reasonableness of either the requested accommodation or any identified alternative accommodation. Provides that a landlord shall not be liable for injuries caused by a person's assistance animal or service animal permitted on the landlord's property as a reasonable accommodation to assist the person with a disability. Provides that a landlord may require a tenant to cover the costs of repairs for damage the animal causes to the tenant's dwelling unit or the common areas, reasonable wear and tear excepted; however, a landlord may not require a tenant to pay a pet-related deposit that is otherwise required for tenants who are not requesting accommodation. Defines terms. Makes other changes. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Assistance Animal Integrity Act. Defines terms. Provides that a housing provider who receives a request from a person to make an exception to the housing provider's policy prohibiting or restricting animals on the housing provider's property because the person requires the use of an assistance animal may require the person to produce reliable documentation of the disability and disability-related need for the animal only if the disability or disability-related need is not readily apparent or known to the housing provider. Provides requirements for documentation that a person has a disability and requires the use of an assistance animal as a reasonable accommodation in housing under the federal Fair Housing Act or the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that a housing provider may deny a documented request for accommodation or rescind a granted request if the accommodation imposes either an undue financial and administrative burden or a fundamental alteration to the nature of the operations of the housing provider or if, after conducting an individualized assessment, there is reliable objective evidence that the specific assistance animal: (i) poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others that cannot be reduced or eliminated by another reasonable accommodation; (ii) causes substantial physical damage to the property of others that cannot be reduced or eliminated by another reasonable accommodation; or (iii) has engaged in a pattern of uncontrolled behavior that its handler has not taken effective action to correct. Provides that a housing provider may require a resident to cover the costs of repairs for damage the animal causes to the resident's dwelling unit or the common areas, reasonable wear and tear excepted, in the same manner it would for damage caused by any other resident, but may not require a resident to pay a pet-related deposit, pet fee, or related pet assessment and also may not require purchase of special liability insurance or coverage for the assistance animal. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be construed as requiring documentation of a specific diagnosis regarding a disability or disability-related need. Provides that nothing in the Act prohibits a housing provider from verifying the authenticity of the documentation submitted under the Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a housing provider shall not be liable for injuries caused by a person's assistance animal permitted on the housing provider's property as a reasonable accommodation to assist the person with a disability. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be construed to: limit individuals' rights under specified laws; or limit the liability of housing providers under such laws.