Bill > HR4755

This bill, known as the LEO K9 Protection Act, introduces several key provisions to enhance legal protections and medical support for police dogs (K9 units) working in federal, state, and local law enforcement. First, the bill amends existing law to create stricter criminal penalties for anyone who uses a deadly or dangerous weapon against a police animal, with potential fines and imprisonment of up to 15 years. The bill broadly defines "police animal" to include dogs and horses used in criminal detection, law enforcement, search and rescue, fire investigation, and military operations. It also explicitly allows for emergency veterinary care without legal penalty. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of Transportation to develop and publish guidelines within 180 days to help emergency medical services personnel care for police dogs injured during official duties, drawing from existing federal guidelines. Furthermore, the bill mandates regulations to ensure that injured police dogs can be transported to veterinary facilities and receive emergency medical care, even when no human requires medical attention. These provisions aim to recognize the critical role of K9 units in law enforcement and provide them with enhanced legal and medical protections.

Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4755/all-info