Bill Sponsor
House Bill 5403
116th Congress(2019-2020)
Courthouse Dogs Act
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in House on Dec 11, 2019
Overview
Text
Introduced in House 
Dec 11, 2019
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Introduced in House(Dec 11, 2019)
Dec 11, 2019
Not Scanned for Linkage
About Linkage
Multiple bills can contain the same text. This could be an identical bill in the opposite chamber or a smaller bill with a section embedded in a larger bill.
Bill Sponsor regularly scans bill texts to find sections that are contained in other bill texts. When a matching section is found, the bills containing that section can be viewed by clicking "View Bills" within the bill text section.
Bill Sponsor is currently only finding exact word-for-word section matches. In a future release, partial matches will be included.
H. R. 5403 (Introduced-in-House)


116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5403


To allow the use of certified facility dogs in criminal proceedings in Federal courts, and for other purposes.


IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 11, 2019

Ms. Scanlon (for herself and Mr. Rutherford) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary


A BILL

To allow the use of certified facility dogs in criminal proceedings in Federal courts, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. Short title.

This Act may be cited as the “Courthouse Dogs Act”.

SEC. 2. Use of certified facility dog for testimony in criminal proceedings.

(a) In general.—Chapter 223 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 3502 the following:

§ 3503. Use of certified facility dog for testimony in criminal proceedings

“(a) Defined term.—In this section, the term ‘certified facility dog’ means a dog that has graduated from an assistance dog organization that is a member of an internationally recognized assistance dog association that has a primary purpose of granting accreditation based on standards of excellence in areas of—

“(1) assistance dog acquisition;

“(2) dog training;

“(3) dog handler training; and

“(4) dog placement.

“(b) Requests for use of certified facility dogs.—Either party in a criminal proceeding in a Federal court may apply for an order from the court to allow a certified facility dog, if available, to be present with a witness testifying before the court through—

“(1) in-person testimony; or

“(2) testimony televised by 2-way, closed-circuit television.

“(c) Conditions for approval.—A Federal court may enter an order authorizing an available certified facility dog to accompany a witness while testifying at a hearing in accordance with subsection (b) if the court finds that—

“(1) the dog to be used qualifies as a certified facility dog;

“(2) the use of a certified facility dog will aid the witness in providing testimony; and

“(3) upon a showing by the party seeking an order under subsection (b), the certified facility dog is insured for liability protection.

“(d) Handlers.—Each certified facility dog authorized to accompany a witness under subsection (c) shall be accompanied by a handler who is—

“(1) trained to manage the certified facility dog by an assistance dog organization described in subsection (a); and

“(2) a professional working in the legal system with knowledge about the legal and criminal justice processes.

“(e) Deadline.—The party seeking an order under subsection (b) shall apply for such order not later than 14 days before the preliminary hearing, trial date, or other hearing to which the order is to apply.

“(f) Other orders.—A Federal court may make such orders as may be necessary to preserve the fairness of the proceeding, including imposing restrictions on, and instructing the jury regarding, the presence of the certified facility dog during the proceedings.

“(g) Savings provision.—Nothing in this section may be construed to prevent a Federal court from providing any other accommodations to a witness in accordance with applicable law.”.

(b) Clerical amendment.—The chapter analysis for chapter 223 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 3502 the following:


“3503. Use of certified facility dog for testimony in criminal proceedings.”.