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Bill > SF31
IA SF31
A bill for an act allowing emergency medical care providers to diagnose and treat severe injuries suffered by police service dogs while on duty.(See SF 296.)
summary
Introduced
01/14/2025
01/14/2025
In Committee
01/14/2025
01/14/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
91st General Assembly
Bill Summary
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.
AI Summary
This bill allows emergency medical care providers (EMCPs) who are certified under Chapter 147A to diagnose and treat severe injuries of police service dogs while the dogs are on duty, with several important conditions. Specifically, EMCPs may stabilize a police service dog's condition only after first treating any injured humans at the scene, the dog must be severely injured and working under a peace officer's supervision, and the treatment must be aimed at immediately stabilizing the dog for later veterinary follow-up. The bill emphasizes that emergency medical care providers are not required to provide such services and will not be civilly liable for their actions if they act reasonably and in good faith. This legislation creates an exception to existing veterinary medicine regulations, which typically require that only licensed veterinarians can diagnose and treat animal injuries, recognizing the unique and time-sensitive nature of injuries to police service dogs in emergency situations.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Committee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 296. S.J. 261. (on 02/12/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=SF31 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/SF31.html |
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