(a) When a blind, deaf or mobility impaired person is accompanied by a dog that serves as, or is in training to become, a guide, leader, listener or support dog for him or her, and he or she can show proof by certificate or other means that the dog leading him or her, listening for him or her, or providing support or assistance for him or her, has been or is being trained for that purpose by a nonprofit special agency engaged in such work, the person is entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of all public conveyances, hotels and lodging places, all places of public accommodation, amusement or resort, all institutions of education, and other places to which the general public is invited, and may take the dog into such conveyances and places, subject only to the conditions and limitations applicable to all persons not so accompanied, except that:
(1) The dog shall not occupy a seat in any public conveyance;
(2) The dog shall be upon a leash while using the facilities of a common carrier; and
(3) Any dog in training to become a guide, leader, listener or support dog shall be covered by a liability insurance policy provided by the nonprofit special agency engaged in such work protecting members of the public against personal injury or property damage caused by the dog.
(b) No person shall deprive a blind, deaf or mobility impaired person of any of the advantages, facilities or privileges provided in division (a) of this section, nor charge the blind, deaf or mobility impaired person a fee or charge for the dog.
(c) As used in this section, "institutions of education" means:
(1) Any state university or college, as defined in Ohio R.C. 3345.32;
(2) Any private college or university that holds a certificate of authorization issued by the Ohio Board of Regents pursuant to Ohio R.C. Chapter 1713;
(3) Any elementary or secondary school operated by a board of education;
(4) Any chartered or non-chartered non-public elementary or secondary school; and
(5) Any school issued a certificate of registration by the State Board of Proprietary School Registration.
(d) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree and shall be subject to the penalty provided in Section 698.02.
(Ord. 2012-81. Passed 9-19-12.)