Bill > A883

Introduced Session

This bill establishes a grant program within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) for nonprofit organizations to provide service dogs to disabled veterans. DMVA would be required to develop guidelines, procedures, and criteria for applications and awards. At a minimum, applications will include a proposal for the provision of service dogs to disabled veterans, a description of the training that will be provided to disabled veterans and service dogs, a list of any additional support or services the nonprofit organization will provide, a marketing campaign plan, a description of the commitment of the nonprofit organization to humane standards for animals and how these standards will be implemented, and proof of accreditation by Assistance Dogs International or the International Guide Dog Federation. The bill also prohibits nonprofit organizations awarded a grant from charging a fee to a disabled veteran receiving a service dog through the program. The bill also requires DMVA to provide a commercially available veterinary insurance policy for a service dog to each disabled veteran who receives the service dog through the grant program. The policy will continue to be provided without regard to the continuation or termination of the grant program. The grant recipients will be required to report grant fund use to DMVA. Implementation of the grant program would be subject to a future appropriation by the Legislature.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Vicky Flynn (R)*,  Gerry Scharfenberger (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee (on 01/13/2026)

Official Document