Franklin County adopts service-animal policy clarifying access and staff inquiry limits

At its Sept. 16 session, the Franklin County Commission accepted and approved a county Service Animals Policy that clarifies how service animals are handled on county property and what staff may ask when it is not obvious what task an animal performs.

The policy states that a person with a disability has the right to be accompanied by a service animal trained to assist with a specific disability in county buildings, on county property and grounds open to the public. It specifies that service animals should be harnessed, leashed or tethered unless those devices interfere with the service animal's work; in that case, the handler must maintain control by voice or other effective means. The policy requires state-required rabies vaccinations.

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the policy restricts staff inquiries to two questions when an animal's service role is not obvious: (1) whether the animal is a service animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task the animal has been trained to perform. The policy prohibits staff from asking about the person's disability, requesting medical documentation or asking the animal to demonstrate tasks.

The policy also lists circumstances under which staff may ask the handler and animal to leave, including if the animal is unruly, not housebroken, aggressively behaving, or if the presence of a miniature horse would pose legitimate safety or facility constraints. The commission accepted the policy and the clerk filed it in the records.

County officials said the policy is intended to ensure compliance with federal law while providing clear guidance to staff and the public.