AMBULANCE TRANSPORT: POLICE DOGS S.B. 1234:
SUMMARY AS ENACTED
Senate Bill 1234 (as enacted) PUBLIC ACT 600 of 2018
House Committee: Health Policy
CONTENT
The bill amends the Public Health Code to specify that Part 209 (Emergency Medical Services) does not prohibit an ambulance from providing emergency transport of a police dog that is injured in the line of duty to a veterinary clinic or similar facility, if the police dog is in need of emergency medical treatment and there are no individuals who require transport or emergency assistance at that time. Ambulance personnel may require that a police officer accompany the police dog during emergency transport.
"Police dog" means that term as defined in Section 50c of the Michigan Penal Code: 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 will take effect on March 29, 2019.
BACKGROUND
According to the National Police Dog Foundation, police dogs have been used in law enforcement since the Middle Ages. Police dogs have a variety of duties, including providing security in sensitive areas, assisting in the search for a suspect, searching for and/or rescuing missing people or objects, and detecting illegal substances, explosives, or causes of a fire.
Police dogs serve a law enforcement agency for approximately six to nine years. The most common breeds of police dogs are German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois.
Legislative Analyst: Drew Krogulecki
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill will have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Fiscal Analyst: Elizabeth Raczkowski
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.