2022 -- H 7021 | |
======== | |
LC003225 | |
======== | |
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022 | |
____________ | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- ANIMAL CARE | |
| |
Introduced By: Representatives Bennett, C Lima, Solomon, Edwards, Shanley, Serpa, | |
Date Introduced: January 10, 2022 | |
Referred To: House Health & Human Services | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Chapter 4-19 of the General Laws entitled "Animal Care" is hereby amended |
2 | by adding thereto the following section: |
3 | 4-19-23. Humane transportation of K-9 partners. |
4 | (a) For this purposes of this section "police dog" means: a dog owned by a police |
5 | department or police agency of the State of Rhode Island or any political subdivision thereof, that |
6 | is used by the department or agency for official duties. |
7 | (b) EMS personnel shall provide emergency treatment to a police dog injured in the line of |
8 | duty and transport such police dog by ambulance to a veterinary care facility equipped to provide |
9 | emergency treatment to dogs; provided, however, that EMS personnel shall not transport an injured |
10 | police dog if providing such transport would inhibit their ability to provide emergency medical |
11 | attention or transport to a person requiring such services. |
12 | (c) The department of health, in consultation with the Rhode Island's veterinary medical |
13 | association and the department of state police's K-9 unit, shall develop policies and procedures that |
14 | include, but are not limited to: |
15 | (1) Appropriate training of EMS personnel to provide police dogs basic level first aid, |
16 | cardiopulmonary resuscitation and life-saving interventions, including, but not limited to, |
17 | administering naloxone; provided, however, that nothing in this section shall authorize the |
18 | provision of advanced life support care to a police dog; |
19 | (2) Safe handling procedures for injured police dogs, including, but not limited to, the use |
| |
1 | of a box muzzle and response coordination with a law enforcement official trained in handling |
2 | police dogs; |
3 | (3) Identification of veterinary facilities that provide emergency treatment for injured |
4 | police dogs; |
5 | (4) Decontamination of stretchers, the patient compartment and any contaminated medical |
6 | equipment after a police dog has been transported by ambulance or EMS vehicle; and |
7 | (5) Sterilization of the interior of an ambulance or EMS vehicle before being returned to |
8 | human service, including, but not limited to, sanitizing all allergens and disinfection to a standard |
9 | safe for human transport. |
10 | (d) The department of health may grant a waiver from this section if the department |
11 | determines that compliance poses a safety risk to the public. The department shall develop |
12 | regulations regarding applications and issuance of such a waiver. |
13 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
======== | |
LC003225 | |
======== | |
| LC003225 - Page 2 of 3 |
EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- ANIMAL CARE | |
*** | |
1 | This act would authorize emergency medical treatment to police dogs injured in the line of |
2 | duty which includes transporting by ambulance. |
3 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
======== | |
LC003225 | |
======== | |
| LC003225 - Page 3 of 3 |