Bill
Bill > HF490
IA HF490
A bill for an act allowing police service dogs to receive emergency veterinary medical services while on duty.
summary
Introduced
02/20/2025
02/20/2025
In Committee
02/20/2025
02/20/2025
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 —— 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.
AI Summary
This bill allows certified emergency medical care providers (EMTs) to provide emergency veterinary medical services to police service dogs that are severely injured while on duty, under specific conditions. The bill creates an exception to existing veterinary practice regulations, permitting EMTs to diagnose or treat a police service dog only after first ensuring all human medical needs at the scene are met. EMTs can only provide stabilizing treatment necessary to keep the dog alive until a licensed veterinarian can provide full care, and they must prioritize human medical needs over the dog's treatment. The bill includes important safeguards: EMTs can choose whether to treat the dog, cannot use medical equipment needed for human patients, must stop treatment if they are dispatched elsewhere, and cannot transport the injured dog in an ambulance. Additionally, the bill provides legal protection for EMTs who act reasonably and in good faith when treating a police service dog, preventing them from being held civilly liable for their medical intervention. This legislation aims to give police service dogs a better chance of survival in critical emergency situations by allowing trained medical professionals to provide immediate, life-saving care.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Subcommittee recommends passage. (on 03/05/2025)
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=HF490 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/HF490.html |
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