New Rules for California Restaurants and Guide Dogs - Central Coast News KION/KCBA

SACRAMENTO--There are new rules for restaurants when it comes to guide dogs.

The restaurant industry says getting people to their restaurants is easy. It's winning back repeat customers that is the key to success. Assemblyman Michael Allen has introduced a new partnership with California restaurants and the state's seeing-impaired community.

Together they've come up with new standards for interacting with blind patrons and their guide dogs. That includes the instructors who train guide dogs. It's all been organized in an etiquette guide. The guide will help wait staff and management better understand the special needs of the seeing-impaired. For example: explaining where things are on a table by using clock positions such as "your coffee is at three o'clock."

The goal is giving customers a great experience.

Assemblyman Allen says the California Restaurant Association has taken the first step in the business community toward finding ways to better serve the seeing-impaired community.