Written by Forrest Wall, CAE, Vice President Government Affairs and Industry Relations
Final Push For Emotional Support Animal Legislation
As you may recall, AAM is supporting a two-bill legislative effort to help prevent the false representation of possession of an emotional support animal (ESA). The first bill, House Bill 4910, would create the “Misrepresentation of Emotional Support Animals Act.” This bill proposes the following:
- a definitional framework for state law
- bars individuals and health care providers from falsely representing a disability or possession of an ESA
- allow disability documentation requests by housing providers after resident signs authorization
- requirements for health care providers who prescribe ESAs
- penalty provisions for violations of the law
- allowance for lease termination for false representation
- directive to the Michigan Department of Civil Rights to establish a hotline which would receive reports of false representations and complaints.
The second bill, House Bill 4911, would amend the Revised Judicature Act to support termination of a lease for misrepresentation of an emotional support animal.
Earlier this year the Michigan House of Representatives passed both bills, and in September the Senate Regulatory Reform Committee took testimony. Additional changes were then made to House Bill 4910 to accommodate concerns expressed by the medical community. With very few days left in this legislative session, the final push is on to seek Senate passage of the bills and the Governor’s approval. If these bills are not passed by the legislature or signed by the Governor in the time left, they will need to be reintroduced in 2021 in conjunction with the new legislative session and the process starts over.
AAM Market Outlook Recording Available
Although it was disappointing that the annual AAM Market Outlook could not be held in person, our virtual version on November 5th garnered the highest attendance in the 13 years of holding this event! Please know the recording and slides are available at www.apartments.org for your viewing. A special thanks to our panelists Warren Rose, Matt Lester and Dave Ferszt for their insightful comments and exchange of ideas, our moderator David Wilkins for skillfully facilitating the discussion, and our market update presenter Kevin Dillon for his fantastic information.
We especially appreciate our sponsors who made the live stream possible:
- Apartment Building Management Workers Compensation Self-Insured Fund/Peabody Insurance
- Berkadia
- First American Title
- Greystone Bel
- Walker & Dunlop