SB 268 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
03/16/2023 0882s
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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.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 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:
1 Short Title. This act shall be known as "Max's Law."
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) "Emergency medical care provider" means an employee or volunteer member of a public or private organization having responsibility for the delivery of health services to individuals experiencing illness or injury at a location other than a hospital or other medical facility. The term shall not include lifeguards at swimming facilities or members of ski patrols unless said individuals are performing invasive patient care procedures.
(b) "Law enforcement officer" or "police officer" means any sheriff or deputy sheriff, constable, watchman, member of the national guard acting under orders while in active state service ordered by the governor under RSA 110-B:6, or other person authorized to make arrests in a criminal case.
(c) "Operational canine" means a dog owned or used by a law enforcement department or agency, and a fire department, in the course of the department or agency's work, including a police dog, search and rescue dog, accelerant detection canine, comfort dog, or other dog that is in use by a county, municipal or state law enforcement agency.
(d) "Treatment" means any treatment allowable under current New Hampshire emergency medical services patient care protocols.
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 has been injured in the line of duty and no human needs transport or ambulance services. 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 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 a 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.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.