Chapter 295
2022 -- S 3019
Enacted 06/29/2022

A N   A C T
RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- ANIMAL CARE

Introduced By: Senators Archambault, and Raptakis

Date Introduced: June 14, 2022

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
     SECTION 1. Chapter 4-19 of the General Laws entitled "Animal Care" is hereby amended
by adding thereto the following section:
     4-19-23 4-19-24. Humane transportation of K-9 partners.
     (a) For this the purposes of this section, "police dog" means: a dog owned by a police
department or police agency of the State state of Rhode Island or any political subdivision thereof,
that is used by the department or agency for official duties.
     (b) EMS personnel may provide emergency treatment to a police dog injured in the line of
duty and transport such the police dog by ambulance to a veterinary care facility equipped to
provide emergency treatment to dogs; provided, however, that EMS personnel shall not transport
an injured police dog if providing such transport would inhibit their ability to provide emergency
medical attention or transport to a person requiring such services.
     (c) The department of health, in consultation with the Rhode Island veterinary medical
association, the Rhode Island association of fire chiefs, the Rhode Island state association of
firefighters, at least two (2) practicing, licensed emergency medical technicians, the international
brotherhood of police officers' K-9 officer, the fraternal order of police's K-9 officer, and the
department of state police's K-9 unit, shall develop policies and procedures that include, but are not
limited to:
     (1) Appropriate training of EMS personnel to provide police dogs basic level first aid,
cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and life-saving interventions, including, but not limited to,
administering naloxone; provided, however, that nothing in this section shall authorize the
provision of advanced life support care to a police dog;
     (2) Safe handling procedures for injured police dogs, including, but not limited to, the use
of a box muzzle and response coordination with a law enforcement official trained in handling
police dogs;
     (3) Identification of veterinary facilities that provide emergency treatment for injured
police dogs;
     (4) Decontamination of stretchers, the patient compartment, and any contaminated medical
equipment after a police dog has been transported by ambulance or EMS vehicle; and
     (5) Sterilization of the interior of an ambulance or EMS vehicle before being returned to
human service, including, but not limited to, sanitizing all allergens and disinfection to a standard
safe for human transport.
     (d) The department of health may grant a waiver from this section if the department
determines that compliance poses a safety risk to the public. The department shall develop
regulations regarding applications and issuance of such a waiver.
     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC006123
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