SF 31 (LSB 1075XS (2) 91)

SENATE FILE 31

BY  McCLINTOCK

A BILL FOR

An Act allowing emergency medical care providers to diagnose and treat severe injuries suffered by police service dogs 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”, all of the following apply:
   (1)  The emergency medical care provider shall diagnose or treat the police service dog only after diagnosing or treating any injured human at the scene of the emergency.
   (2)  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.
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. This bill provides an exception for a person certified by the department of health and human services as an emergency medical care provider (Code chapter 147A) when diagnosing or treating a police service dog acting under the supervision of 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 veterinary medical services must be necessary to immediately stabilize the police service dog’s condition for a later diagnosis or treatment by a licensed veterinarian or temporary permit holder. The bill provides that an emergency medical care provider is not required to diagnose or treat a police service dog, cannot provide such a service prior to diagnosing or treating a human at the scene of an emergency, and is not civilly liable for diagnosing or treating the police service dog if the emergency medical care provider acted reasonably and in good faith.