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Committee questions PSBA language on service animals; asks solicitor to confirm what districts may ask
Summary
Policy 718 (service animals) was updated with PSBA language about permissible pre‑approval questions and a section on miniature horses; committee members expressed concern about prohibitions on requesting documentation or demonstrations and asked for solicitor guidance and citation checks (28 CFR 35.130 was referenced).
The policy committee reviewed PSBA-recommended updates to Policy 718 on service animals in school buildings and raised questions about what the district may lawfully ask before approving a service animal.
Dr. Kelly Hoffman reviewed the draft, which identifies two questions a district may ask and four it may not ask before approving a service animal, and includes guidance about reasonable modifications for miniature horses. Committee members voiced practical concerns: Mr. Curran and others asked why a district could not request documentation or a demonstration to confirm training or to protect students with allergies or safety concerns. Hoffman said the language appears to follow federal regulation and noted the committee’s staff would confirm the citation; a participant read aloud that “nowhere in 28 CFR 35.130 does the word document occur.”
Committee members also discussed that, under Pennsylvania practice, only dogs and miniature horses are recognized as service animals; members said hygiene and control were practical concerns if a larger animal were proposed. Hoffman said she would ask solicitor Garton whether the PSBA-prescribed prohibitions on requesting documentation or demonstrations are required by federal law or can be adapted to district needs. No policy was adopted on Aug. 4; the committee requested solicitor confirmation of statutory citations and return of any suggested edits.
