Senate Bill 238 aims to enhance the legal protections for search and rescue dogs by expanding existing laws that currently protect police and fire animals. The bill introduces a new definition for "search and rescue dog," specifying that it refers to dogs trained by recognized agencies to locate lost individuals and disaster victims. The title of the relevant statute is amended to include "search and rescue dogs," and the language is updated to explicitly prohibit harassment, intimidation, or abuse of these dogs, similar to the protections already in place for police and fire animals.

Additionally, the bill outlines the penalties for violations against these animals. It maintains the existing penalties for harassment, which range from a Class B forfeiture to Class A misdemeanors and felonies, depending on the severity of the offense and whether the perpetrator knew the animal's role. The amendments ensure that search and rescue dogs are afforded the same legal protections as police and fire animals, thereby recognizing their critical role in public safety and emergency response.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 951.095(title), 951.095, 951.095(1)(intro.), 951.095(2)(b), 951.18(2m), 951.18