Emergency medical services: police canines.

Assembly Member Michelle Rodriguez's legislation authorizes paramedics and emergency medical technicians to provide emergency care to police canines injured in the line of duty, while extending liability protections to medical professionals who assist these animals. The bill permits licensed ambulance operators to transport injured police canines to veterinary facilities when no human patients require immediate medical attention or transport.

The legislation defines police canines as those owned or employed by state or local law enforcement agencies, correctional agencies, fire departments, special fire districts, or the State Fire Marshal for detecting criminal activity, locating flammable materials or missing persons, enforcing laws, investigating fires, or apprehending offenders. Medical professionals who provide emergency care to injured police canines at the scene or during transport would receive immunity from civil and criminal liability when acting in good faith. The bill amends existing veterinary practice laws to create a specific exemption for paramedics and EMTs providing this emergency care.

These provisions add to current law requiring emergency services for human patients while maintaining existing requirements for ambulance licensing and veterinary practice. The bill establishes protocols for situations where emergency medical personnel may assist injured police canines without affecting their primary duty to human patients.