WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2024 REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
House Bill 5601
By Delegates E. Pritt and Howell
[Introduced February 12, 2024; Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §19-20-27, all relating to prohibiting a person from taking a dog, cat, or other animal into a grocery store or retail establishment that sells food unless the animal is a registered service animal.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, no person shall enter a grocery store or retail establishment that sells food with a dog, cat, or other animal unless the animal is a registered service animal.
(b) A person that violates this section of code shall be subject to a fine of not more than $500. Upon a second or subsequent violation, he or she shall be subject to a fine of not more than $1,000.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to prohibit a person from taking a dog, cat, or other animal into a grocery store or retail establishment that sells food unless the animal is a registered service animal.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.