BILL NUMBER: S1294
SPONSOR: BORRELLO
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing the
canine officer health monitoring fund
 
PURPOSE:
Relates to establishing the Canine Officer Health Monitoring Fund
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one Amends the Executive law to allow applicants authorized to
and employs canine officers (police dogs) may apply to the commissioner
for reimbursement of funds expended for all health costs related to
regular health or injury associated with canine officers.
Section two directs the commissioners to maintain and annually update a
list of claims made to the division for reimbursement for health costs
related to regular health or injury associated with canine officers,
along with relevant data related to such reimbursement.
Section three, this act shall take effect immediately
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The Officer Down Memorial page lists 357 Canine Officers (Police Dogs)
listed as killed in the line of duty from 1877 to 2018. The most common
cause was gunfire at page 101, Heat at page 62 and struck by vehicle at
page 56. This sample is voluntarily provide by departments throughout
the country, but it is the most information available, as there is no
current state or federal monitoring once the Canine Officers are certi-
fied. They become the property/personnel of the department of their
handler.
Because each department maintains their own records, large scale studies
of the health and safety is exceedingly rare. Basic questions like 'how
many are there in New York State' or 'how long do they typically serve'
are anecdotal or approximations. This bill would seek to correct this
issue by creating a fund to reimburse for health care related costs
associated with a canine officer program, and to maintain a record of
the claims to collect data to improve the health and safety of the
service animals.
Recently, this issue has become especially essential. In 2017, the U.S.
Drug Enforcement Administration issued a warning to every law enforce-
ment agency on the dangers of cross-contamination and inhalation of
novel synthetic opioids by officers; specifically Fentanyl, Carfentanil,
U-47700 (Pink), JW18, and others. The Morphine Milligram Equivalence
(MME) of these substances would increase the morphine equivalent inhala-
tion from one Picogram to one Nanogram; equating to a Milligram (MME)
per 100 inhalations during a search by a canine officer.
With a lack of data and an increasing threat of novel synthetic
()plaids, this monitoring system will identify potential hazards to
their health and safety, as well as ease the cost of maintaining a
canine program for local police departments. Especially as departments
are tasked with retraining narcotics detection canines post marijuana
legalization. Many departments are assessing whether they can afford the
program; which may cost as much as $70,000.
Canine officers are part of the law enforcement community. We as a state
should consider their protection as part of the overall dedication we
have for those who serve. As the state looks to adapt to the opioid
pandemic and marijuana legalization, this program will assist local law
enforcement in the protection of their canine officers.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024: S1070/A1494 Referred to Codes
2023: 81070/A1494 Referred to Codes
2022: S.7048 Referred to Consumer Protection
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.