Bill: ‘Facility’ Dogs Allowed In Court
It’s for聽Hawaii judicial proceedings involving the testimony of a vulnerable witness.
Have you heard of “facility” dogs?
According to a proposed bill at the Hawaii Legislature, a facility dog is聽a聽graduate from an assistance dog organization accredited by Assistance Dogs International “specially trained to provide emotional support to witnesses testifying in judicial proceedings without causing a distraction during the proceedings.”
聽would authorize聽any state court to permit the use of a facility dog in a judicial proceeding “involving the testimony of a vulnerable witness if the court determines that there is a compelling necessity for the use of a trained and credential facility dog to facilitate the testimony of a vulnerable witness.”
“Vulnerable witness” means a witness whose ability to testify in a judicial proceeding “will be hampered or ineffective without the assistance of a facility dog, for reasons including but not limited to intellectual or emotional disability, intimidation, or age.”
HB 1668, which has , is part of the聽Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney’s legislative package.
