Bill > S1431

This bill, also known as "Nero's Law," aims to allow for the humane transportation of K9 partners (police dogs) by emergency medical services (EMS) personnel. The key provisions of the bill include: 1. Removing the word "exclusively" from the existing law, which previously limited the use of motor vehicles for transporting only sick, injured, or wounded persons. 2. Allowing motor vehicles used for transporting sick, injured, or wounded persons to also transport a police dog injured in the line of duty, as long as there are no human patients requiring transport at the time. 3. Defining "police dog" as a dog owned or used by a law enforcement department or agency, including search and rescue dogs, service dogs, accelerant detection canines, and other dogs used by county, municipal, or state law enforcement agencies. 4. Providing liability protection for EMS personnel who, in good faith, render emergency first aid to an injured police dog or transport the animal to a veterinary care facility. 5. Authorizing any ambulance operating in the Commonwealth to transport a police dog injured in the line of duty, if no human needs transport or ambulance services. This bill aims to ensure the humane treatment and rapid medical care of K9 partners injured while serving their communities alongside law enforcement personnel.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S1431