AMBULANCE TRANSPORT OF POLICE DOGS

Senate Bill 1234 (H-2) as reported from House committee

Sponsor:  Sen. David Knezek

House Committee:  Health Policy

Senate Committee:  Insurance                                             (Enacted as Public Act 600 of 2018)

Complete to 12-19-18

SUMMARY:

Senate Bill 1234 would amend the Public Health Code to state that Part 209 of the Code, which governs Emergency Medical Services, would not prohibit an ambulance from providing emergency transport of a police dog injured in the line of duty to a veterinary clinic or similar facility, as long as no individuals required transport or emergency service at that time. Ambulance personnel could require that a police officer accompany the police dog during the emergency transport.

Police dog would mean a dog used by a law enforcement agency of the state or of a local unit of government of the state that is trained for law enforcement work and subject to the control of a dog handler.

The bill would take effect 90 days after enactment.

Proposed MCL 333.20925

HOUSE COMMITTEE ACTION:

The House Committee on Health Policy reported an H-2 substitute for the bill. The substitute added a provision that would allow ambulance personnel to require a police officer to accompany the dog in the ambulance.

FISCAL IMPACT:

There would be no direct cost implications for the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees Part 209 of the Public Health Code, or for local units of government that may operate ambulance services. There may be costs associated with the use of an ambulance for this service, which could be borne by either the ambulance provider or the law enforcement agency employing the police dog. There may be costs for an ambulance entity that chooses to provide training of emergency medical personnel and emergency responders to help police dogs in these situations.

Police dogs have been trained at a significant cost to the employing police department and are vulnerable to dangerous situations, including exposure to fatal doses of narcotics.

POSITIONS:

A representative of the Michigan State Police testified in support of the bill. (12-12-18)

The following entities indicated support for the bill (12-12-18):

·         Department of Health and Human Services

·         Michigan Professional Firefighters

                                                                                       Legislative Analysts:   Jenny McInerney

                                                                                                                           Dana Adams             

                                                                                                Fiscal Analyst:   Susan Frey

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.