Service_Animals

Policy 337CSU Police Department Systemwide Policy Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/08/30, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by CSU Police DepartmentService Animals - 1Service Animals 337.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE The purpose of this policy is to provide the guidelines necessary to ensure that the rights of individuals who use service animals to assist with disabilities are protected in accordance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 337.1.1 DEFINITIONS Definitions related to this policy include: Service animal - A dog that is trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual's disability (28 CFR 35.104; Civil Code § 54.1; Health and Safety Code § 113903). Service animal also includes a miniature horse if the horse is trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities, provided the horse is housebroken, is under the handler's control, the facility can accommodate the horse's type, size, and weight, and the horse's presence will not compromise legitimate safety requirements necessary for safe operation of the facility (28 CFR 35.136(i)). Emotional Support Animal (ESA) – An ESA is an animal that is not trained to perform specific tasks directly related to an individual's disability but does provide emotional support which alleviates one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person's disability. An emotional support animal may also be referred to as an assistance animal, a comfort animal or a therapy animal. An emotional support animal is not restricted by species like a service animal. An emotional support animal must have current vaccinations, be under control and be maintained in a manner that considers the health and hygiene of the animal and those who come in contact with the animal. Dogs and cats, for example, must be housebroken and well-groomed. Emotional support animals must also meet additional requirements as specified in an approval allowing the emotional support animal in university housing. Emotional support animals are not protected by the ADA. In accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and CSU's Policy on Service and Emotional Support Animals for Students on campus, the campus director or designee of the program for services to students with disabilities, in partnership with University Housing, will determine on a case-by-case basis, and, whether the animal is a reasonable accommodation in housing. https:// calstate.policystat.com/policy/14045319/latest/ 337.2 POLICY It is the policy of the CSU Police Department to provide equal access to services, programs, and activities of the Department to persons with service animals. Department members shall protect the rights of persons assisted by service animals in accordance with state and federal law. This protection extends to a person authorized to train a service dog (Civil Code § 54.2). CSU Police Department Systemwide Policy Manual Service Animals Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/08/30, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by CSU Police DepartmentService Animals - 2337.3 IDENTIFICATION AND USE OF SERVICE ANIMALS Service animals that are assisting individuals with disabilities are permitted in all public facilities and areas where the general public is allowed. Department members are expected to treat individuals with service animals with the same courtesy and respect that the CSU Police Department affords to all members of the public (28 CFR 35.136). Some service animals may be readily identifiable. However, many do not have a distinctive symbol, harness, or collar. Service animals may be used in a number of ways to provide assistance, including: •Guiding people who are blind or have low vision. •Alerting people who are deaf or hard of hearing. •Retrieving or picking up items, opening doors, or flipping switches for people who have limited use of their hands, arms, or legs. •Pulling wheelchairs. •Providing physical support and assisting with stability and balance. •Doing work or performing tasks for persons with traumatic brain injury, intellectual disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities, such as reminding a person with depression to take medication. •Alerting a person with anxiety to the onset of panic attacks, providing tactile stimulation to calm a person with post-traumatic stress disorder, assisting people with schizophrenia to distinguish between hallucinations and reality, and helping people with traumatic brain injury to locate misplaced items or follow daily routines. 337.4 INQUIRIES REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS If it is apparent or if a member is aware that an animal is a service animal, the individual generally should not be asked any questions as to the status of the animal. If it is unclear whether an animal meets the definition of a service animal, the member should ask the individual only the following questions (28 CFR 35.136(f)): •Is the animal required because of a disability? •What task or service has the service animal been trained to perform? If the individual explains that the animal is required because of a disability and has been trained to work or perform at least one task, the animal meets the definition of a service animal and no further questions as to the animal's status should be asked. The individual should not be questioned about their disabilities nor should members ask any individual to provide any license, certification, or identification card for the service animal. 337.5 CONTACT WITH SERVICE ANIMALS Service animals are not pets. Department members should not interfere with a service animal by talking to, petting, or