Under this bill, subject to funding, when a canine that was utilized in the service of the highway patrol is retired due to age, service-related injury, or any other reason, and the canine is retired to the care and custody of a highway patrol officer, whether active or retired, the department of safety will pay $85.00 per month to the officer caring for the retired canine, to be used exclusively for the medical care of the retired canine. This bill requires the officer with custody of the retired canine to maintain records of all medical treatment provided to the retired canine in the officer's care and custody and, by June 1 of each year, submit a copy of these medical records to the department of safety for the fiscal year ending at the end of that month. Within 30 days of the death of a retired canine in the care of a highway patrol officer, the officer must notify the department of safety of the canine's death, upon which notification the payments will cease. The monthly amount will be in addition to any amount that is otherwise due and paid to the officer by virtue of salary, retirement, disability, or other reason.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 71-3-520(a), 71-3-520