2009 Louisiana Laws TITLE 46 Public welfare and assistance :: RS 46:1953 Use of public facilities; equal accommodations; assistance dogs

§1953.  Use of public facilities; equal accommodations; assistance dogs

A.  Every physically disabled person shall have the same right as an able-bodied person to the full and free use of the streets, highways, sidewalks, walkways, public buildings, public facilities, and other public places.

B.  Every physically disabled person shall be entitled to full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, and privileges in the following, subject only to the conditions and limitations established by law and applicable alike to all persons:

(1)  Common carriers, including taxis, airplanes, motor vehicles, railroad trains, motor buses, streetcars, boats, or any other public conveyances or modes of transportation operated on land or water, in the air, or any stations and terminals thereof.

(2)  Educational institutions, including but not limited to kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, trade or business schools, high schools, academies, colleges, and universities.

(3)  Hotels, lodging places, restaurants, theaters, places of public accommodation, amusement, or resort.

(4)  Other places to which the general public is invited.

C.  Every physically disabled person may be accompanied by an assistance dog, especially trained to aid such person, in any of the places provided in Subsection B of this Section without being required to pay an extra charge for such dog.  However, he shall be liable for any damage done to the premises, facilities, operators, or occupants by such dog.

D.  Nothing in this Section shall require any person who owns, leases, or operates any public conveyance or modes of transportation, educational institutions, hotels, restaurants, theaters, lodging places, places of public accommodation, amusement, or resort, and other places to which the general public is invited, to modify his property or facility in any way or provide a higher degree of care for a physically disabled person than for a person who is not physically disabled.

Acts 1982, No. 518, §1; Acts 1993, No. 482, §1; Acts 1993, No. 763, §2.

NOTE:  Acts 1993, No. 763, §1 amended prior R.S. 46:1952(A), (B), and (C), 1953(D), and 1954 and enacted R.S. 46:1953(E).  Acts 1993, No. 482, §1 amended and reenacted the entire Chapter.  The Chapter appears as in Act No. 482.  The Louisiana State Law Institute printed the provisions of Act No. 763 as a note at the head of this Chapter.