CHAPTER 175
SB 268 - FINAL VERSION
03/16/2023 0882s
4May2023... 1259h
2023 SESSION
23-1057
08/07
SENATE BILL 268
AN ACT allowing for pre-hospital treatment and transportation for operational canines.
SPONSORS: Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20; Sen. Ricciardi, Dist 9; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Ward, Dist 8; Sen. Gendreau, Dist 1; Sen. Carson, Dist 14
COMMITTEE: Judiciary
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill allows emergency services personnel to treat and transport operational canines.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/16/2023 0882s
4May2023... 1259h 23-1057
08/07
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three
AN ACT allowing for pre-hospital treatment and transportation for operational canines.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
175:1 Short Title. This act shall be known as "Max's Law."
175:2 New Subdivision; Operational Canine Trauma Transport. Amend RSA 153-A by inserting after section 36 the following new subdivision:
Operational Canine Trauma Transport
153-A:37 Operational Canines; Hospital Treatment.
I. In this section:
(a) "Law enforcement officer" or "police officer" shall have the same meaning as defined in RSA 106-L:2, IV; provided that for purposes of this section, the term shall also include members of the national guard acting under orders while in active state service ordered by the governor under RSA 110-B:6.
(b) "Operational canine" means a canine owned or used by a law enforcement department or agency, or fire department, in the course of the department or agency's work, including a police canine, search and rescue canine, scent detection canine, comfort canine, or other canine that is in use by a county, municipal, or state law enforcement agency.
(c) "Official duties" shall include, but are not limited to, line of duty incidents, deployments, trainings, certifications, and related transportation.
II. Any ambulance owned and/or operated by any public or private entity may provide transport to an operational canine to a veterinary care facility only if the animal is ill or has been injured in the course of their official duties and no human needs transport or treatment. Emergency medical care providers may request that a law enforcement officer assist with securing the operational canine and accompanying them during the transport.
III. All licensed emergency medical service units and affiliated emergency medical care providers approved to administer treatment and who are in the performance of their duties and in good faith render emergency first aid to an ill or injured operational canine, shall not be personally liable as a result of rendering such aid or services unless it is established that the injury or the death was caused willfully, wantonly, or recklessly or by gross negligence on the part of the emergency medical care provider. In the case of both a licensed emergency medical service unit and an emergency medical care provider, as a result of transporting an operational canine to a veterinary care facility, shall not be liable to a veterinary care facility for its expenses if, under emergency conditions, they cause the admission of such animal to said veterinary care facility.
175:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved: July 28, 2023
Effective Date: July 28, 2023