Table of Contents Sec. 46a-41. (Formerly Sec. 3-10e). Proclamation of White Cane Safety Day.
Each year, the Governor shall take suitable public notice of October fifteenth as White
Cane Safety Day. He shall issue a proclamation in which: Sec. 46a-42. (Formerly Sec. 22-345a). "Mobility impaired persons" defined.
For purposes of sections 22-345, 46a-44 and 46a-64: "Mobility impaired person" means
any person, regardless of age, who is subject to a physiological defect or deficiency
regardless of its cause, nature or extent that renders the person unable to move about
without the aid of crutches, a wheelchair or any other form of support, or that limits the
person's functional ability to ambulate, climb, descend, sit or rise or to perform any
related function. Sec. 46a-43. (Formerly Sec. 22-345b). Certificate identifying person as mobility impaired. Section 46a-43 is repealed. Sec. 46a-44. (Formerly Sec. 22-346a). Access of guide and assistance dogs to
modes of public transportation and in places of public accommodation. (a) Any
blind, deaf or mobility impaired person or any person training a dog as a guide dog for
a blind person or a dog to assist a deaf or mobility impaired person may travel on a train
or on any other mode of public transportation, and may enter any other place of public
accommodation which caters or offers its services or facilities or goods to the general
public, including but not limited to, any public building, inn, restaurant, hotel, motel,
tourist cabin, place of amusement, resort or any facility of any such public accommodation, accompanied by his guide dog or assistance dog, and he may keep such dog with
him at all times in any such public accommodation or facility thereof at no extra charge,
provided such dog shall be in the direct custody of such person and shall be wearing a
harness or an orange-colored leash and collar.
Sec. 46a-41. (Formerly Sec. 3-10e). Proclamation of White Cane Safety Day.
Sec. 46a-42. (Formerly Sec. 22-345a). "Mobility impaired persons" defined.
Sec. 46a-43. (Formerly Sec. 22-345b). Certificate identifying person as mobility impaired.
Sec. 46a-44. (Formerly Sec. 22-346a). Access of guide and assistance dogs to modes of
public transportation and in places of public accommodation.
Secs. 46a-45 to 46a-50.
(a) He comments upon the significance of the white cane;
(b) He calls upon the citizens of the state to observe the provisions of the laws
relating to the blind and to take precautions necessary to the safety of the disabled;
(c) He reminds the citizens of the state of the policies with respect to the disabled
herein declared and urges the citizens to cooperate in giving effect to them;
(d) He emphasizes the need of the citizens to be aware of the presence of disabled
persons in the community and to keep safe and functional for the disabled the streets,
highways, sidewalks, walkways, public buildings, public facilities, other public places,
places of public accommodation, amusement and resort, and other places to which the
public is invited, and to offer assistance to disabled persons upon appropriate occasions.
(P.A. 73-279, S. 5.)
History: Sec. 3-10e transferred to Sec. 46a-41 in 1991.
See Sec. 1-1f for definitions of "blind" and "physically disabled".
See Sec. 10-29a re days of special significance proclaimed by Governor.
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(P.A. 85-289, S. 3; P.A. 88-364, S. 31, 123; P.A. 95-33, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 88-364 made technical changes; Sec. 22-345a transferred to Sec. 46a-42 in 1991; P.A. 95-33 deleted
reference to Sec. 46a-43.
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(P.A. 85-289, S. 4; P.A. 89-144, S. 10; P.A. 95-33, S. 2.)
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(b) Any blind, deaf or mobility impaired person or any person training a dog as a
guide dog for a blind person or a dog to assist a deaf or mobility impaired person shall
be entitled to visit any place of public accommodation, resort or amusement or a dwelling
as a guest of a lawful occupant thereof, accompanied by his guide dog or assistance
dog, and he may keep such dog with him at all times in such public accommodation,
resort, amusement or dwelling at no extra charge, provided such dog shall be in the
direct custody of such person and shall be wearing a harness or an orange-colored leash
and collar. No such blind, deaf or mobility impaired person or person training a dog as
a guide dog for a blind person or a dog to assist a deaf or mobility impaired person shall
be charged any fee not applicable alike to all guests, provided the owner of such dog
shall be liable for any damage done to the premises or facilities by such dog. For the
purposes of this subsection, (1) a "place of public accommodation, resort or amusement"
means any establishment which caters or offers its services or facilities or goods to the
general public, including, but not limited to, any commercial building lot, on which it
is intended that a commercial property or building will be constructed or offered for
sale or rent, and (2) "dwelling" means any building, structure, mobile manufactured
home park or portion thereof which is occupied as, or designed or intended for occupancy
as, a residence by one or more families, and any vacant land which is offered for sale
or lease for the construction or location thereon of any such building, structure, mobile
manufactured home park or portion thereof, provided the provisions of this subsection
shall not apply to (A) the rental of a room or rooms in a single-family dwelling unit if
the owner actually maintains and occupies part of such living quarters as his residence
or (B) a unit in a dwelling containing living quarters occupied or intended to be occupied
by no more than two families living independently of each other, if the owner actually
maintains and occupies the other such living quarters as his residence.
(c) Any person who denies the rights afforded to blind, deaf or mobility impaired
persons or persons training a dog as a guide dog for a blind person or a dog to assist a
deaf or mobility impaired person under subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall be
guilty of a class C misdemeanor, provided such blind, deaf or mobility impaired person
or person training a dog as a guide dog for a blind person or a dog to assist a deaf or
mobility impaired person complies with the applicable provisions of subsection (a) or
(b) of this section.
(d) For purposes of this section, "guide dog" or "assistance dog" includes a dog
being trained as a guide dog or assistance dog and "person training a dog as a guide dog
for a blind person or a dog to assist a deaf or mobility impaired person" means a person
who is employed by and authorized to engage in designated training activities by a
guide dog organization or assistance dog organization that complies with the criteria
for membership in a professional association of guide dog or assistance dog schools and
who carries photographic identification indicating such employment and authorization.
(1963, P.A. 641, S. 1; P.A. 73-279, S. 3; P.A. 76-49, S. 2; P.A. 85-289, S. 6; P.A. 89-21, S. 1; P.A. 92-257, S. 5; P.A.
97-141, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 73-279 deleted provisions requiring that guide dog be muzzled in Subsec. (a) and that blind person have
credential issued by dog training school, deleted former Subsec. (b) requiring that blind person present credential if requested
to do so, inserted new Subsec. (b) clarifying access rights of blind person and guide dog to housing, etc. and replaced
provisions of Subsec. (c) re penalty for violation of blind person's rights to be accompanied by guide dog which had
imposed fine of not more than one hundred dollars and/or sixty days' imprisonment with provision for consideration of
guilt as Class C misdemeanor; P.A. 76-49 made provisions applicable to deaf persons; P.A. 85-289 made provisions of
section applicable to mobility impaired persons; P.A. 89-21 added option that dog wear orange colored leash and collar;
Sec. 22-346a transferred to Sec. 46a-44 in 1991; P.A. 92-257 added "or a dwelling" after "amusement", redefined "place
of public accommodation, resort or amusement" and added definition of "dwelling"; P.A. 97-141 made provisions of
section applicable with respect to any person training a dog as a guide dog for a blind person or a dog to assist a deaf or
mobility impaired person, added references to assistance dogs, amended Subsec. (b) to make the owner of the dog, rather
than the blind, deaf or mobility impaired person, liable for any damage caused by the dog and added Subsec. (d) defining
"guide dog", "assistance dog" and "person training a dog as a guide dog for a blind person or a dog to assist a deaf or
mobility impaired person".
See Sec. 1-1f for definition of blindness.
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