H.B. 679
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
Apr 26,
22, 2021
SESSION 2021 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK
H D
HOUSE BILL DRH30321-NB-102
Short Title: Emergency Care for K9 Units. (Public)
Sponsors: Representative Boles.
Referred to:
1 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
2 AN ACT TO PROVIDE LIMITED IMMUNITY FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE RENDERED
3 TO CERTIFIED K-9 UNITS.
4 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
5 SECTION 1. Article 56 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes is amended by adding
6 a new section to read:
7 "§ 143-514A. Medical assistance rendered to K-9 units; limited immunity.
8 (a) Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section:
9 (1) Emergency medical services personnel. – As defined in G.S. 131E-155(7).
10 (2) Law enforcement dog. – A dog trained for law enforcement use that is (i)
11 actively certified pursuant to federal, national, regional, or State standards and
12 (ii) owned or maintained by a law enforcement agency or other agency for law
13 enforcement or security services, financially or contractually supported by a
14 federal, State, or other agency.
15 (3) Law enforcement dog handler. – A law enforcement officer or security
16 professional who is (i) trained to partner with a law enforcement dog in the
17 performance of the law enforcement officer's or security professional's duties,
18 (ii) actively certified pursuant to federal, national, regional, or State standards,
19 and (iii) qualified to train, care for, and work with a law enforcement dog.
20 (4) Search and rescue dog. – A dog that is certified as a search and rescue dog by
21 any national certification organization that is deployed by or contracted to
22 work with a federal, State, or local agency or department.
23 (b) Immunity. – Notwithstanding any provision of law, an emergency medical services
24 personnel or law enforcement dog handler who voluntarily renders first aid, emergency
25 treatment, rescue assistance, or transportation to a veterinary clinic to a law enforcement dog or
26 search and rescue dog that is unconscious, ill, injured, or in need of rescue assistance shall not
27 be liable for damages or injuries caused by an act or omission in rendering first aid, emergency
28 treatment, or rescue assistance, to the law enforcement dog, resulting in further injury or death
29 of the law enforcement dog, unless the injury or death was caused by gross negligence, willful
30 misconduct, reckless conduct, or intentional wrongdoing by the emergency medical services
31 personnel or law enforcement dog handler.
32 (c) Exception. – This section does not apply if the first aid, emergency treatment, or
33 rescue assistance is rendered on the premises of a veterinary hospital or clinic."
34 SECTION 2. This act becomes effective October 1, 2021, and applies to acts or
35 omissions on or after that date.
*DRH30321-NB-102*