House Bill 1694, also known as the "Tennessee K-9 Emergency Medical Care and Transport Act," amends various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated to establish protocols for emergency services related to canine first responders. The bill introduces definitions for terms such as "ambulance service," "canine first responder," and "emergency veterinary medicine service director." It mandates the board of veterinary medical examiners, in consultation with the Tennessee emergency medical services board, to create rules for licensed veterinarians to serve as emergency veterinary medicine service directors and to train emergency medical services personnel in providing care to injured canine first responders.

Additionally, the bill specifies that emergency medical services personnel are not required to be licensed to transport or provide emergency care to a canine first responder injured in the line of duty. It also grants immunity from criminal and civil liability to emergency medical services personnel who act in good faith while providing care to these animals. The act aims to ensure that canine first responders receive timely and appropriate medical attention when injured during their duties.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 63-12-103, 63-12-133