Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

PRINTER'S NO.   1986
                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
                         SENATE BILL
                         No. 1345
                                                  Session of
                                                    2024
     INTRODUCED BY ROBINSON, REGAN, TARTAGLIONE, PENNYCUICK, FARRY
        AND CULVER, NOVEMBER 8, 2024
     REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, NOVEMBER 8, 2024
                                      AN ACT
 Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
    Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in budget and finance,
    providing for retired police dogs; establishing the K-9
    Retirement Fund; and imposing duties on the Pennsylvania
    Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
    The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 hereby enacts as follows:
    Section 1.      Chapter 35 of Title 42 of the Pennsylvania
 Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subchapter to read:
                               SUBCHAPTER G
                           RETIRED POLICE DOGS
 Sec.
 3591.   Definitions.
 3592.   K-9 Retirement Fund.
 3593.   Grants.
 3594.   Reports.
 3595.   Rules and regulations.
 § 3591.   Definitions.
    The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter
 shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
 context clearly indicates otherwise:
    "Applicant."    A person that seeks a grant from the fund and:
        (1)     cares or cared for, or is or was otherwise
    responsible for, a retired police dog; and
        (2)     incurs or incurred expenses for, or is or was
    otherwise financially responsible for expenses incurred for,
    the veterinary treatment of the retired police dog.
    "Commission."    The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and
 Delinquency.
    "Correctional institution."     As defined in 61 Pa.C.S. § 102
 (relating to definitions).
    "Fund."     The K-9 Retirement Fund established under section
 3592(a) (relating to K-9 Retirement Fund).
    "Law enforcement agency."     Any of the following:
        (1)     The Pennsylvania State Police.
        (2)     A police department of a municipality.
        (3)     Any other entity that employs individuals who, by
    virtue of their office or public employment, are vested by
    law with a duty to maintain public order or make arrests for
    offenses, whether the duty extends to all offenses or is
    limited to specific offenses.
    "Municipality."    A county, city, borough, incorporated town
 or township of this Commonwealth.
    "Practice of veterinary medicine."      As defined in section
 3(10) of the act of December 27, 1974 (P.L.995, No.326), known
 as the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act.
    "Retired police dog."     A dog that:
        (1)     was previously in the service of or employed by a
    law enforcement agency or correctional institution in this
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    Commonwealth for the principal purpose of aiding in the
    detection of criminal activity, enforcement of laws or
    apprehension of offenders; and
           (2)   received certification in obedience and apprehension
    work from a certifying organization, such as the National
    Police Canine Association, that is recognized by the
    commission.
    "Veterinary treatment."
           (1)   Treatment related to the practice of veterinary
    medicine.
           (2)   The term includes:
                 (i)    Annual wellness examinations.
                 (ii)    Vaccinations.
                 (iii)    Internal and external parasite prevention
           treatments.
                 (iv)    Testing and treatment of illnesses and
           diseases.
                 (v)    The administration and prescribing of
           medications.
                 (vi)    Emergency care and surgeries.
                 (vii)    Veterinary oncology or other specialty care.
                 (viii)    End-of-life care.
                 (ix)    Euthanasia.
                 (x)    Cremation.
 § 3592.    K-9 Retirement Fund.
    (a)    Establishment.--The K-9 Retirement Fund is established
 in the State Treasury.
    (b)    Administration.--The commission shall administer the
 fund.
    (c)    Purpose.--The commission shall use money in the fund to
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 provide grants to applicants seeking reimbursement for expenses
 involving the veterinary treatment of retired police dogs.
    (d)    Money in fund.--Money in the fund and the interest
 accruing on the money in the fund are appropriated on a
 continuing basis to the commission for the purpose specified
 under subsection (c).
    (e)    Fund sources.--The commission may solicit and accept
 money for the purpose specified under subsection (c), including
 money appropriated by the General Assembly, Federal money,
 grants, donations, gifts and other payments from any source,
 which shall be deposited into the fund.
    (f)    Money to remain in fund.--Any money remaining in the
 fund at the end of each fiscal year, including interest accruing
 on the money in the fund, shall not revert to the General Fund
 but shall remain in the fund.
 § 3593.    Grants.
    (a)    Application.--The commission shall develop an
 application form for applicants. The following apply:
           (1)   The application form, including deadlines and
    instructions for submittal, shall be posted on the publicly
    accessible Internet website of the commission.
           (2)   An applicant shall provide the following information
    to the commission:
                 (i)    The name and contact information of the
           applicant.
                 (ii)    The amount of the grant requested.
                 (iii)    The specific veterinary treatment that is the
           subject of the grant requested. The applicant may request
           a grant for multiple or ongoing veterinary treatments.
                 (iv)    Proof that the applicant:
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                       (A)   cares or cared for, or is or was otherwise
                 responsible for, a retired police dog; and
                       (B)   is incurring or incurred expenses for, or is
                 or was otherwise financially responsible for expenses
                 incurred for, the veterinary treatment of the retired
                 police dog.
                 (v)   Any other information that the commission
           requires.
    (b)    Determination.--The commission shall determine whether
 to approve or deny the grant request, in whole or in part.
    (c)    Notice.--Upon making a determination under subsection
 (b), the commission shall provide written notice of the
 determination to the applicant. If the grant request is denied
 in whole or in part, the written notice shall include the reason
 for the denial.
    (d)    Additional information.--The commission may request
 additional information from the applicant that may be necessary
 to process the grant application.
    (e)    Limitations.--
           (1)   Grants shall be disbursed on a first-come, first-
    served basis determined by the commission and until all money
    in the fund is exhausted.
           (2)   The commission may set a cap on the amount of a
    grant.
           (3)   The commission shall implement any necessary policy
    or procedure to administer the fund.
 § 3594.    Reports.
    (a)    Submittal.--No later than the August 1 that is at least
 one year after the effective date of this subsection and each
 August 1 thereafter, the commission shall submit a report on the
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 fund to the following:
           (1)   The Governor.
           (2)   The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
    Appropriations Committee of the Senate.
           (3)   The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
    Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives.
           (4)   The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
    Judiciary Committee of the Senate.
           (5)   The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
    Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives.
    (b)    Contents.--Each annual report under this section shall
 include the following:
           (1)   The number of grant applications received.
           (2)   The number of grants awarded.
           (3)   The total amount of grants awarded.
           (4)   The amount of each grant awarded.
           (5)   The purpose or purposes served through the award of
    each grant.
           (6)   The number of grants denied, in whole or in part,
    along with the reasons for the denial.
           (7)   The amount remaining in the fund.
           (8)   Any recommendations by the commission to improve the
    administration of the fund.
    (c)    Posting.--Each annual report under this section shall be
 posted on the publicly accessible Internet website of the
 commission.
 § 3595.    Rules and regulations.
    The commission shall adopt or promulgate any necessary rule
 or regulation to implement, administer and enforce the
 provisions of this subchapter.
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   Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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Statutes/Laws affected: 
Printer's No. 1986: 42-35