Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to enhance protection against discrimination for individuals with disabilities. It aims to amend existing Minnesota statutes to ensure that people with disabilities are not excluded or denied benefits from services, programs, or activities of entities receiving state funds.

Main Provisions

• Prohibition of Discrimination:

  • The bill strictly prohibits any form of discrimination against individuals with disabilities by public or private entities that receive funding from the state.
  • Entities are required to provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities, ensuring equal participation and benefits access.

• Definition of Disability:

  • The bill defines a person with a disability as someone with a physical or mental condition that significantly limits one or more major life activities. This includes activities such as self-care, mobility, learning, vision, hearing, communication, breathing, working, and social interaction.

• Service Animals:

  • The bill designates it as an unlawful practice for businesses like hotels, restaurants, or other public places to deny access to individuals with disabilities who are accompanied by service animals.
  • It prohibits additional charges for individuals with disabilities using service animals, adhering to the federal Americans with Disabilities Act definitions.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 363A.19 to enhance existing protections for individuals with disabilities, emphasizing the necessity of reasonable accommodations and explicitly including service animal provisions.

Relevant Terms

• Discrimination
• Disabilities
• Reasonable accommodations
• Service animals
• Americans with Disabilities Act
• Public and private entities
• Major life activities
• Unlawful practice