HF 490 (LSB 1075YH (2) 91)

HOUSE FILE 490

BY  GJERDE

(COMPANION TO SF 296 BY COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY)

A BILL FOR

An Act allowing police service dogs to receive emergency veterinary medical services while on duty.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 147A.8, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  3.  Provide veterinary medical services by diagnosing or treating a severely injured police service dog as provided in section 169.4.
    Sec. 2.  Section 169.4, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  17.  a.  An emergency medical care provider certified pursuant to chapter 147A who elects to provide veterinary medical services by diagnosing or treating a police service dog, if all of the following apply:
   (1)  The police service dog was on duty under the supervision of a peace officer as defined in section 801.4.
   (2)  The police service dog suffered a severe injury.
   (3)  The veterinary medical services are necessary to immediately stabilize the police service dog’s condition for later diagnosis or treatment by a licensed veterinarian or the holder of a valid temporary permit.
   b.  An emergency medical care provider certified pursuant to chapter 147A may elect not to provide veterinary medical services under paragraph “a”.
   c.  If an emergency medical care provider certified pursuant to chapter 147A elects to provide veterinary medical services under paragraph “a”, the emergency medical care provider shall not be civilly liable for diagnosing or treating the police service dog if the emergency medical care provider acted reasonably and in good faith.
   d.  An emergency medical care provider certified pursuant to chapter 147A electing to provide veterinary medical services under paragraph “a” shall comply with all of the following:
   (1)  The emergency medical care provider may diagnose or treat a severely injured police service dog only after the emergency medical care provider furnishes all diagnoses or treatment needed by the last human at the scene of the emergency.
   (2)  The emergency medical care provider shall not use equipment, or shall discontinue the use of equipment, to diagnose or treat a severely injured police service dog at the scene of an emergency, if any of the following apply:
   (a)  The equipment is needed to diagnose or treat a human at the scene of the emergency.
   (b)  The equipment is dispatched to another location.
   (3)  The emergency medical care provider shall not diagnose or treat a severely injured police service dog, or shall discontinue diagnosing or treating a severely injured police service dog, at the scene of an emergency, if any of the following apply:
   (a)  The emergency medical care provider is dispatched to another location.
   (b)  A vehicle used to transport the emergency medical care provider is dispatched to another location.
   e.  A severely injured police service dog shall not be transported in a vehicle that provides emergency medical or ambulance services.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   BACKGROUND. Current law provides for veterinary medical services that include diagnosing or treating an animal’s injury. The services are required to be provided by a veterinarian holding a license or temporary permit issued by the Iowa board of veterinary medicine (Code chapter 169). Certain exceptions apply which allow other persons to provide limited services, such as persons performing accepted livestock management practices (Code section 169.4).
   BILL’S PROVISIONS —— GENERAL PROVISIONS. This bill provides an exception for a person certified by the Iowa department of health and human services as an emergency medical care provider (care provider) (Code chapter 147A) when furnishing aid, in the form of diagnosis or treatment, to a police service dog acting under the supervision of a peace officer (e.g., county sheriff or deputy, police officer employed by a city, or member of the department of public safety). The police service dog must be injured while on duty, the injury must be severe, and the aid must be necessary to immediately stabilize the police service dog’s condition for later diagnosis or treatment by a licensed veterinarian or temporary permit holder. A care provider who acts in good faith to provide veterinary medical services to a police service dog is not civilly liable.
   BILL’S PROVISIONS —— CONDITIONS. The care provider in furnishing aid to the police service dog must comply with a number of conditions. The care provider must first furnish aid to the last human at the scene of the emergency; must not use equipment, or discontinue the use of equipment, to furnish aid to a treat a police service dog if the equipment is needed to furnish aid to a human at the scene of the emergency or the equipment is dispatched to another location; and must not render aid to a police service dog, or must discontinue rendering aid, at the scene of an emergency, if the care provider is dispatched to another location or the vehicle used to transport the care provider is dispatched to another location. In addition, the police service dog cannot be transported in a vehicle that provides emergency medical or ambulance services.