{"data":{"id":"us-tx/tex.-government-code-21.012","jurisdiction":"us-tx","citation":"Tex. Government Code § 21.012","heading":"PRESENCE OF QUALIFIED FACILITY DOG OR QUALIFIED THERAPY DOG IN COURT PROCEEDING.","body":"(a) In this section:\n(1) \"Qualified facility dog\" means a dog that:\n(A) is a graduate of a program operated by an assistance dog organization that is a member of a nationally recognized assistance dog association; or\n(B) before January 1, 2021, on the approval of the court, served in a court proceeding by accompanying a witness who was testifying.\n(2) \"Qualified therapy dog\" means a dog that successfully completes a program operated by an organization that registers, insures, or certifies a therapy dog and the dog's handler as meeting or exceeding the standards of practice in animal-assisted interventions.\n(b) Any party to an action filed in a court in this state in which a proceeding related to the action will be held may petition the court for an order authorizing a qualified facility dog or qualified therapy dog to be present with a witness who is testifying before the court through:\n(1) in-person testimony; or\n(2) closed-circuit video teleconferencing testimony.\n(c) The court may enter an order authorizing a qualified facility dog or qualified therapy dog to accompany a witness testifying at the court proceeding if:\n(1) the presence of the dog will assist the witness in providing testimony; and\n(2) the party petitioning for the order provides proof of liability insurance coverage in effect for the dog.\n(d) A handler who is trained to manage the qualified facility dog or qualified therapy dog must accompany the dog provided for a witness at a court proceeding.\n(e) A party to the action must petition the court for an order under Subsection (b) not later than the 14th day before the date of the court proceeding.\n(f) A court may:\n(1) impose restrictions on the presence of the qualified facility dog or qualified therapy dog during the court proceeding; and\n(2) issue instructions to the jury, as applicable, regarding the presence of the dog.\nAdded by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 204 (H.B. 1071), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2021.","path":["GOVERNMENT CODE","TITLE 2. JUDICIAL BRANCH","SUBTITLE A. COURTS","CHAPTER 21. GENERAL PROVISIONS"],"source_url":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.21.htm#21.012","current_through":"89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T01:47:16Z","sha256":"6e3afe0e5c735a9320996ca9fecf05cd798bc0a1cda13fbf132ec0d2069e1f21","source_id":"us-tx","stale":false,"prev":"us-tx/tex.-government-code-21.011","next":"us-tx/tex.-government-code-21.013"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}