HB 1694

This bill is known and may be cited as the "Tennessee K-9 Emergency Medical Care and Transport Act, which requires the board of veterinary medical examiners, in consultation with the Tennessee emergency medical services board, to (i) establish requireme nts for a licensed veterinarian to serve as an emergency veterinary medicine service director and (ii) approve a program to train emergency medical services personnel to transport and provide emergency care to a canine first responder injured in the line of duty. The emergency veterinary medicine service director provides veterinary medicine advice, direction, oversight, and authorization to emergency medical services personnel at an ambulance service for purposes of transporting and providing emergency veterinary medicine care to a canine first responder that is injured i n the line of duty . As used in this bill, a ""canine first responder"" is a dog w ith specialized training, or being trained, for police, military, or patrol work; detection work; or search-a nd-rescue; and b eing used by and under the control of a federal, state, or local law enforcement officer, railroad police officer or a member of the United States armed forces or of a reserve or Tennessee national guard unit in the performance of the officer's or member's law enforcement or military duties . Upon completion of the training established by the board of veterinary medical examiners, in consultation with the Tennessee emergency medical services board, this bill authorizes emergency medical services personnel to transport a canine first responder injured in the line of duty to a veterinary clinic, veterinary hospital, or other similar facility if there is no individual who requires medical attention or transport at that time, and p rovide emergency care to the canine first responde r while at the sce ne of the injury or while the canine first responder is being transported . This bill clarifies that emergency medical services personnel who provide such care are not required to be licensed under the Tennessee Veterinary Practice Act. IMMUNITY This bill provides that emergency medical services personnel who act in good faith to provide emergency care to a canine first responder are immune from criminal and civil liability as it relates to any injury or harm caused to the injured canine first r esponder, or from refusing to provide care or transport an injured canine first responder. RULEMAKING This bill authorizes the board of veterinary medical examiners, in consultation with the Tennessee emergency medical services board, to promulgate rules to effectuate this bill."