New Texas Legislation Protects Guide Horses
Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities

To supplement existing Federal protection for assistance animals, Texas has passed a new law protecting assistance animals and their owners. Effective September 1, 2003, House Bill number 2881 provides severe criminal penalties if a person or a person's dog attacks an assistance animal..

www.capitol.state.tx.us

From Texas HB 2881: (a violation) is a state jail felony, except that the offense is a felony of the third degree if the person has previously been convicted two times under this section.

Additionally, the Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities has prepared a summary of HB 2881:

New Texas Law

Many Texans with disabilities depend on individually trained assistance
animals to help in daily tasks. These animals guide people who are
blind, alert individuals who are deaf, or pull people in wheelchairs.
When an assistance animal is injured or killed, the person with a disability not only loses the benefits of the animal's assistance but experiences an economic loss. A new law on assistance animals provides specific penalties if a person or a person's dog attacks an assistance animal, and requires restitution for any veterinary or medical bills and the cost of replacing or retraining an assistance animal.

The cost of an assistance animal and services from an organization that
trains assistance animals can range from $10,000 to $60,000.

New Protections for Assistance Animals

An assistance animal is protected from assault, harassment, interference,
death, or injury in any way from a person or an animal. A person is responsible if the person or an animal owned by the person intentionally, knowingly, or  recklessly attacks, injures, or kills an assistance animal.

Penalty for Harm of Assistance Animals

If you or your animal harms an assistance animal, the penalties are:

• Attacks (Class A Misdemeanor:  Fine up to $4,000).
• Injures (State Jail Felony:  180 days and a fine up to $10,000).
• Kills (Third Degree Felony:  2 to 10 years and a fine up to
  $10,000).