BILL NUMBER: S3970
SPONSOR: SEPULVEDA
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law and the education law, in relation
to authorizing emergency medical service personnel to provide basic
first aid to cats and dogs under certain circumstances
 
PURPOSE:
To authorize emergency medical care personnel to provide certain emer-
gency medical care to dogs and cats.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: amends section 3013 of the public health law by adding new
subdivisions 7, 8 and 9.
Section 2: amends the public health law by adding a new section 3019.
Section 3: amends section 6702 of the education law by adding a new
subdivision 3.
Section 4: amends section 6703 of the education law by designating the
opening paragraph as subdivision 1 and adding subdivision 2.
Section 5: amends section 6705 of the education law by adding a new
subdivision 16.
Section 6: provides for the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Emergency situations occur every single day. From house fires to car
accidents, first responders and emergency medical technicians are the
first to arrive at the scene to provide medical care and treat injuries.
Unfortunately, in these emergency situations, it is not only humans who
desperately need medical attention. Domestic animals such as dogs and
cats may also be the victims of a fire or accident. This legislation
allows first responders and emergency medical technicians to provide
treatment to a dog or cat that has been injured prior to transferring
the animal to the care of a veterinarian. This legislation could mean
life or death for countless beloved pets as in an emergency situation,
time is truly of the essence and treatment needs to be administered
immediately. This legislation also protects first responders, emergency
medical technicians, and veterinarians from any civil or criminal
liability in the instance that treatment was unsuccessful and the animal
dies, provided that such person acted reasonably and in good faith.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
S.1968A of 2023-2024; Amended and Recommit to Health, Print Number
1968A;
S. 2783 of 2021-22: Referred to Health, Committed to Rules; S. 8837 of
2020: Referred to Rules;
A. 7608-A of 2019: Referred to Higher Education
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the state.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.

Statutes affected:
S3970: 3013 public health law, 6702 education law, 6705 education law