Disabled Hoosiers will have more access to public buildings, thanks to a new law authored by rep. Dan Leonard (R-Huntington) and signed into law by Gov. Mitch Daniels. House Enrolled Act 1603 expands the areas where service animals are permitted and also expands the definition of "service animal." An individual with a service animal will now be allowed to enter all educational buildings, including administration buildings. HEA 1603 also prohibits an employer from denying employees, with service animals, access to their place of employment. Currently, a person with a disability is entitled to be accompanied by a guide dog in any building of public accommodation, but some education facilities are not included. "Disabled citizens, and their service animals, should have access to all public places," said Rep. Leonard. "To not allow a disabled Hoosier to be accompanied by their service animal or allow them access to public places and their workplace is wrong. I am pleased the governor signed HEA 1603 into law. It will now be easier for the disabled to have more accessibility to places." HEA 1603 redefines service animals as any animal trained as: # A hearing animal. # A guide animal. # An assistance animal. # A seizure alert animal. # A mobility animal. # A psychiatric service animal. # An autism service animal. Rep. Leonard authored HEA 1603 after a constituent was denied access to her workplace with her service animal. In another case, a parent was denied access to a school administration building for a public school board meeting because of a service animal. The law takes effect July 1.

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