Bills › 91st General Assembly
Allowing emergency medical care providers to diagnose and treat severe injuries suffered by police service dogs while on duty
Sponsored by Sen. Charlie McClintock (R)
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 14, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 15, 2025
- Done: Senate committeeFebruary 12, 2025
- Skipped: Passes the SenateContinued as SF 296
- Next: House committee
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Became SF 296 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to SF 296 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Emergency medical care providers would be allowed to give immediate help to a police service dog that is severely injured while on duty. This help is meant to stabilize the dog until a licensed veterinarian can take over. These providers must treat any injured humans at the scene before helping the dog, and they cannot be held legally responsible for their actions if they act in good faith.1
Read the official explanation
BACKGROUND. services that include diagnosing or treating an animal’s injury. The services are required to be provided by a veterinarian holding a license or temporary permit issued by the Iowa board of veterinary medicine (Code chapter 169).4). BILL’S PROVISIONS., county sheriff or deputy, police officer employed by a city, or member of the department of public safety). The police service dog must be injured while on duty, the injury must be severe, and the veterinary medical services must be necessary to immediately stabilize the police service dog’s condition for a later diagnosis or treatment by a licensed veterinarian or temporary permit holder. The bill provides that an emergency medical care provider is not required to diagnose or treat a police service dog, cannot provide such a service prior to diagnosing or treating a human at the scene of an emergency, and is not civilly liable for diagnosing or treating the police service dog if the emergency medical care provider acted reasonably and in good faith.
Senate subcommittee
Named January 15, 2025. On January 22, 2025 it recommended passage.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
Iowa Code it changes
Lobbying
5 for · 0 against · 4 undecided · Who →
Family tree
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.
- SF 2296 Allowing police service dogs to receive emergency veterinary medical services while on dut…90th General Assembly · Approved by committee · same titleCleared committee
- SF 299 Allowing emergency medical care providers to diagnose and treat severe injuries suffered b…90th General Assembly · Renumbered as SF 539 · same titleCleared committee
- SF 539 Allowing emergency medical care providers to diagnose and treat severe injuries suffered b…90th General Assembly · Approved by committee · same titleCleared committee
Matched by wording or an identical title.