ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

Senate: ELEC DP 5-3-0-0 | 3^rd Read DPA 16-13-0-0

House: MAPS DPA/SE 15-0-0-0 | 3^rd Read DP 56-2-0-2

Senate Final Pass: 22-6-0-2

House Final Pass: 57-0-0-3

SB 1068: ~~election board workers; political party~~

NOW: police dogs; emergency treatment

Sponsor: Senator Kavanagh, LD 3

Transmitted to Governor

Overview

Permits emergency medical care technicians (EMCTs) to provide emergency treatment and transportation to police dogs injured in the line of duty.

History

An EMCT means an individual who has been certified by the Department of Health Services (DHS) as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), an advanced emergency EMT, an EMT I-99 or a paramedic (A.R.S. § 36-2201).

Provisions

1. Mandates that every ambulance service require its EMCTs and ambulance attendants to provide transportation, for police dogs injured in the line of duty, to a veterinary clinic or hospital equipped to provide emergency treatment. (Sec. 4)

2. Stipulates that emergency transportation is only to be provided to a police dog if:

a) there is not a person requiring emergency medical treatment or transport at that time;

b) the transport is not expected to take more than 30 minutes;

c) the ambulance service has at least one additional ambulance available to respond to emergency calls; and

d) transport by a police officer in his emergency vehicle is not deemed more safe and expeditious than transport by an ambulance. (Sec. 4)

3. Permits ambulance services to authorize their EMCTs to provide, if trained, emergency treatment for a police dog injured in the line of duty. (Sec. 4)

4. Allows ambulance services to develop, in consultation with specified entities, policies and procedures relating to:

a) Training EMCTs to provide police dogs with basic level emergency care;

b) Safe handling procedures for injured police dogs;

c) Identifying local veterinary facilities that will provide emergency treatment on short notice;

d) Decontamination of the patient compartment and medical equipment; and

e) Sterilization of an ambulance or other emergency vehicle. (Sec. 4)

5. Asserts that EMCTs and other medical personnel who, in the performance of their duties and in good faith, render emergency medical services to an injured police dog are not personally liable as a result of rendering such services. (Sec. 4)

6. Permits an ambulance service that provides transport for an injured police dog to bill the governmental entity that owns the police dog. (Sec. 4)

7. Asserts that a police officer trained in dog handling of an injured police dog may still choose to transport the dog in his own emergency vehicle. (Sec. 4)

8. Exempts EMCTs, and physicians providing directions to EMCTs, who provide emergency treatment to police dogs, from veterinary licensing requirements. (Sec. 1)

9. Defines police dog. (Sec. 2, 3)

10. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 2, 3, 5)

---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------

SB 1068

Initials NM Page 0 Transmitted