TRENTON -- Ben Shore, 16, and his service dog, Charlie, were in the Assembly chambers Monday as the legislators unanimously passed a bill that would impose fines on those who deny access to disabled people with service dogs.

Ben Shore, 16, of Cherry Hill, holds his service dog Charlie's paw to the button he pressed to cast a 'yes' vote for Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt, at right.

They weren't just looking on from the gallery. Sitting next to Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt (D-Camden/Burlington), his goldendoodle in his lap, Shore pressed his dog's fluffy paw on the button to cast Lampitt's vote in favor of the bill she co-sponsored.

"She said, 'You guys are voting,'" Shore said. "So Charlie voted 'yes.'"

"Charlie's Law," if passed by the Senate and signed by Gov. Chris Christie, would impose fines starting at $250 for anyone who refuses to allow a service dog into a public place without cause.

Shore said he believes Charlie's Law will allow people with disabilities to contact the police to resolve disputes if businesses or other public places are denying them entrance. Currently, that person's only other recourse would be to file a civil rights complaint.

The Cherry Hill High School East student is also challenging his school district about its service dog policy. The Board of Education is considering revisions after he pointed out that the policy conflicts with state and federal law, including provisions requiring proof of formal training and banning service dogs from buses.

Shore is on the autism spectrum. He said he has trained Charlie to sense his oncoming panic attacks and to lie on him or lick his face to calm him.

Lampitt co-sponsored the bill with Benjie Wimberly (D-Bergen/Passaic), Daniel Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex), Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen).

"Ben and Charlie are a reminder that we need to continue fighting for those without a voice," Wimberly said in a statement provided by the Assembly Democrats.

The federal Americans with Disabilities Act defines a service animal as a dog that has been individually trained to perform work or a task for a person with a disability.

The law says that dogs can be owner-trained and a public place cannot require documentation or proof that the dog is a service animal. Instead, the person in charge is only allowed to ask if it is a service animal required due to a disability and what task or work the dog performs.

Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt (D-Camden/Burlington) speaks in favor of the bill nicknamed Charlie's Law while Ben Shore, 16, of Cherry Hill, sits with his service dog, Charlie, in his lap in the Assembly chambers Jan. 23, 2017.

Huttle said in the statement that just as students with insulin or inhalers are accommodated, those with disabilities that warrant the use of a service dog "should be no different."

"The law unequivocally prohibits discrimination against those who need services dogs, and New Jersey has a duty to ensure that public entities, businesses and nonprofits abide by it," she said.

Shore said he has been challenged before, including at a Florida airport, by people who did not believe Charlie was a real service dog.

In fact, he said, a security officer at the Statehouse briefly barred his entrance when he, Charlie and a Lampitt staff member tried to enter the chambers. Shore said the staffer was able to assure security that Shore had permission to bring the dog inside.

If the bill becomes law, the fines would range from $250 for a first offense to $1,000 for a third or subsequent offense. Any money raised would help fund education programs for law enforcement on the rights of those with service dogs.

The law would also require the attorney general's office to start a public awareness campaign to teach the public about the new rules.

An identical bill in the Senate was approved by committee and could be voted on anytime.

Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook.