A parent has filed suit against a Florida school district over a policy regarding service animals that requires the family to provide a handler and insurance for the animal. The federal lawsuit against Broward County School District is on behalf of a student with cerebral palsy. The student’s service dog provides warning alerts of the student’s seizures and has a calming effect on the student.

The Broward County School District is allowing the student to bring his service dog to school, provided that the student’s mother provides a handler for the dog and adequate insurance coverage. Although the student is currently allowed to have the dog accompany him to school, his mother is required to be present to handle the dog.

Service dogs are a common feature in school districts throughout the country. The outcome of this lawsuit may provide guidance as to what conditions school districts can impose concerning their use.