BILL NUMBER: S189
SPONSOR: MARTINEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the state finance law, in relation to establishing the
police canine vest fund
 
PURPOSE:
To establish a state police canine vest fund for purchasing, maintain-
ing, repairing, and replacing soft body ballistic armor vests and other
protective equipment for police canine dogs. The fund shall also be
utilized for the purchasing and training of such police canines.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 97-bbbbb that
establishes the State police canine vest fund. The fund would consist of
all monies credited, appropriated, or transferred thereto from any other
fund or source. Money from the fund would be used for the purpose of
purchasing, maintaining, repairing, and replacing soft body ballistic
armor vests and other protective equipment for state police canines
utilized in the performance of state police duties.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Police dogs, aka police K-9's, serving in New York State face the same
dangers and risks as their human officer counterparts. There are typi-
cally two kinds of K-9 classifications: patrol and detection. Patrol
K-9's provide patrol duties such as officer protection, suspect appre-
hension, building clearance, and security in sensitive or controlled
areas, while detection K-9's find either narcotics or explosives. Some
K-9's provide one of these services (single purpose dogs) while others
are trained to be competent in both (dual-purpose dogs).
K-9's risk being shot or stabbed in the line of duty and thus require
adequate protective equipment. When a K-9 dies in the line of duty, New
York State police officers lose a friend and a well-trained specialist
that has dedicated their life to protecting New Yorkers. This bill will
help protect the lives and well-being of our police K-9's by establish-
ing a fund that will provide the protective equipment they need and
deserve. This fund is to be utilized solely for the purchasing, main-
taining, repairing, and replacing of soft body ballistic armor vests and
other protective equipment for police K-9's.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after which it shall
become law and apply to all claims filed on and after such effective
date. Effective immediately the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any
rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its
effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such
date.