RCW 49.60.215 Unfair practices of places of public resort, accommodation, assemblage, amusement—Trained dog guides and service animals.

It shall be an unfair practice for any person or the person's agent or employee to commit an act which directly or indirectly results in any distinction, restriction, or discrimination, or the requiring of any person to pay a larger sum than the uniform rates charged other persons, or the refusing or withholding from any person the admission, patronage, custom, presence, frequenting, dwelling, staying, or lodging in any place of public resort, accommodation, assemblage, or amusement, except for conditions and limitations established by law and applicable to all persons, regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, sex, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as a mother breastfeeding her child, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability: PROVIDED, That this section shall not be construed to require structural changes, modifications, or additions to make any place accessible to a person with a disability except as otherwise required by law: PROVIDED, That behavior or actions constituting a risk to property or other persons can be grounds for refusal and shall not constitute an unfair practice.

[ 2018 c 176 § 3; 2011 c 237 § 1; 2009 c 164 § 2; 2007 c 187 § 12; 2006 c 4 § 13; 1997 c 271 § 13; 1993 c 510 § 16. Prior: 1985 c 203 § 1; 1985 c 90 § 6; 1979 c 127 § 7; 1957 c 37 § 14.]

NOTES:

Declaration—Finding—Purpose—2018 c 176: "The legislature declares that service animals that are properly trained to assist persons with disabilities play a vital role in establishing independence for such persons. There are an increasing number of occurrences where people intentionally or mistakenly represent their pet, therapy animal, or emotional support animal to be a service animal and attempt to bring the animal into a place that it would otherwise not be allowed to enter. Federal and state laws require places of public accommodation, including food establishments, to allow an animal that is presented as a service animal into a place of public accommodation; these same places of public accommodation face a dilemma when someone enters the premises and intentionally misrepresents his or her animal as a service animal. The legislature finds that the misrepresentation of an animal as a service animal trained to perform specific work or tasks constitutes a disservice both to persons who rely on the use of legitimate service animals, as well as places of public accommodation and their patrons. The purpose of this act is to penalize the intentional misrepresentation of a service animal, which delegitimizes the genuine need for the use of service animals and makes it harder for persons with disabilities to gain unquestioned acceptance of their legitimate, properly trained, and essential service animals." [ 2018 c 176 § 1.]

Effective date—2018 c 176: "This act takes effect January 1, 2019." [ 2018 c 176 § 7.]

Severability—1993 c 510: See note following RCW 49.60.010.

Denial of civil rights: RCW 9.91.010.