Bill > S1606

This bill, known as "Nero's Law", allows for the humane transportation of police dogs by ambulance services in Massachusetts. The key provisions of the bill are: 1. It defines a "police dog" as a specially trained dog used by law enforcement agencies for official duties, including search and rescue, service, and accelerant detection. 2. It requires ambulance services to authorize their Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel to provide emergency treatment and transportation to injured police dogs when there are no human patients requiring emergency care. 3. It outlines policies and procedures that ambulance services must develop, such as training EMS personnel in basic first aid for police dogs, safe handling procedures, and decontamination protocols. 4. It provides liability protection for EMS personnel who, in good faith, render emergency aid or transport an injured police dog to a veterinary facility. 5. It exempts EMS providers who care for injured police dogs from certain licensing requirements under the state's veterinary practice act. The purpose of this bill is to ensure the humane treatment and transportation of police dogs injured in the line of duty, recognizing their important role in public safety and law enforcement operations.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S1606