Kansas White Cane Law K.S.A. 39-1101 et seq.
Kansas White Cane Law K.S.A. 39-1101 et seq.
Training
Yes. K.S.A. 39-1113 defines an assistance dog as “any guide dog. Hearing assistance dog, or service dog,” and then defines each of these types of dogs. “Guide dog means a dog which has been specially selected, trained, and tested for the purpose of guiding a person who is legally blind. Hearing assistance dog means a dog which has been specially selected, trained, and tested to alert or warn individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to specific sounds. Service dog means a dog which has been specially selected, trained, and tested to perform a variety of tasks for persons with disabilities. These tasks include, but are not limited to: pulling wheelchairs, lending balance support, picking up dropped objects or providing assistance in, or to avoid, a medical crisis, or to otherwise mitigate the effects of a disability.
Certification
No. The Kansas White Cane Law, however, states that, if a question arises as to whether an assistance dog qualifies under the Act to accompany a person with a disability in or upon a number of places set forth in the Act, the person with a disability MAY produce an identification card or letter conforming to a number of requirements. Such identification card or letter may be provided by the trainer or school who trained the dog. This may include the person with a disability if they trained the dog themselves. The identification card or letter, however, must contain: the legal name of the dog’s user, contact information for the dog’s user, and a picture or digital photographic likeness of the user and dog. The presentation of the identification card or letter is intended to resolve any questions concerning the dog’s right to accompany the user in the places covered under the law. These include: all common carriers, airplanes, motor vehicles, railroad trains, motor buses, street cars, boats, or any other public conveyances or modes of transportation; hotels, lodging places or places of public accommodation, amusement or resort, including food service establishments or establishments for the sale of food; and other places to which the general public is invited.
Medical Documentation
No. No medical documentation is required.
Comfort/Emotional Support Animals
No, with an exemption for a specific type of comfort/emotional support animal. The Kansas White Cane Law defines a professional therapy dog as “a dog which is selected. Trained, and tested to provide specific physical or therapeutic functions under the direction and control of a qualified handler who works with the dog as a team, and as a part of the handler’s occupation or profession. Such dogs, with their handlers, perform such functions in institutional settings, community based group settings, or when providing services to specific persons who have disabilities. The Kansas White Cane Law states any qualified handler of a professional therapy dog, when accompanied by such dog, and when using any conveyance of public transportation available to all members of the general public, and when when renting and using accommodation in motels, hotels, and other temporary lodging places, shall have the right to be accompanied by such dog in such places. Any owner or employee of a business or retail establishment to which the public is invited, including establishments which serve or sell food, shall admit a professional therapy dog accompanied by its qualified handler, to the business. The voluntary identification provisions are similar to those provided for access to assistance dogs.
Service Animals In Training
Yes. The Kansas White Cane Law states that any professional trainer, from a recognized training Center, of an assistance dog, while in training, while engaged in the training of such dog, shall have the right to be accompanied by such dog in the places listed as qualifying for access of assistance dogs.
Enforcement Entities
The attorney general of the State of Kansas or any City or County attorney may bring actions under the Kansas White Cane Law. Additionally, Nothing in the law prevents private legal action from being taken. The law does provide that all users, handlers, and/or trainers of all classifications addressed by the law are liable and responsible for any damage done by any classification of dog addressed by the law.
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