§ 750.50aService animal; prohibited conduct by individual; violation as misdemeanor;

rebuttable presumption that conduct initiated or continued maliciously; conviction or
 sentence under other applicable law; definitions.
 Sec. 50a.
    (1) An individual shall not do either of the following:
    (a) Willfully and maliciously assault, beat, harass, injure, or attempt to assault, beat, harass,
 or injure a service animal that he or she knows or has reason to believe is a service animal
 used by a person with a disability.
    (b) Willfully and maliciously impede or interfere with, or attempt to impede or interfere
 with, duties performed by a service animal that he or she knows or has reason to believe is a
 service animal used by a person with a disability.
    (2) An individual who violates subsection (1) is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by
 imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a fine of not more than $500.00, or both.
    (3) In a prosecution for a violation of subsection (1), evidence that the defendant initiated or
 continued conduct directed toward a service animal described in subsection (1) after being
 requested to avoid or discontinue that conduct or similar conduct by a person with a disability
 being served or assisted by the service animal shall give rise to a rebuttable presumption that
 the conduct was initiated or continued maliciously.
    (4) A conviction and imposition of a sentence under this section does not prevent a
 conviction and imposition of a sentence under any other applicable provision of law.
    (5) As used in this section:
    (a) "Harass" means to engage in any conduct directed toward a service animal described in
 subsection (1) that is likely to impede or interfere with the service animal's performance of its
 duties or that places the person with a disability being served or assisted by the service animal
 in danger of injury.
    (b) "Injure" means to cause any physical injury to a service animal described in subsection
 (1).
    (c) "Maliciously" means any of the following:
    (i) With intent to assault, beat, harass, or injure a service animal described in subsection (1).
    (ii) With intent to impede or interfere with duties performed by a service animal described
 in subsection (1).
    (iii) With intent to disturb, endanger, or cause emotional distress to a person with a
 disability being served or assisted by a service animal described in subsection (1).
    (iv) With knowledge that the individual's conduct will or is likely to harass or injure a
 service animal described in subsection (1).
    (v) With knowledge that the individual's conduct will or is likely to impede or interfere with
 duties performed by a service animal described in subsection (1).
    (vi) With knowledge that the individual's conduct will or is likely to disturb, endanger, or
 cause emotional distress to a person with a disability being served or assisted by a service
 animal described in subsection (1).

    (d) "Person with a disability" means a person who has a disability as defined in section
 12102 of the Americans with disabilities act of 1990, 42 USC 12102, and 28 CFR 36.104.
    (e) As used in subdivision (d), "person with a disability" includes a veteran who has been
 diagnosed with 1 or more of the following:
    (i) Post-traumatic stress disorder.
    (ii) Traumatic brain injury.



                                                                Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 91 of 2026
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    (iii) Other service-related disabilities.
    (f) "Service animal" means all of the following:
    (i) That term as defined in 28 CFR 36.104.
    (ii) A miniature horse that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks as
 described in 28 CFR 36.104 for the benefit of a person with a disability.
    (g) "Veteran" means any of the following:
    (i) A person who performed military service in the armed forces for a period of more than
 90 days and separated from the armed forces in a manner other than a dishonorable discharge.
    (ii) A person discharged or released from military service because of a service-related
 disability.
    (iii) A member of a reserve branch of the armed forces at the time he or she was ordered to
 military service during a period of war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign
 badge is authorized, and was released from military service in a manner other than a
 dishonorable discharge.