SB 2069

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 ve terinary medicine care to a canine first responder that is injured in the line of duty. As used in this bill, a ""canine first responder"" is a dog with specialized training, or being trained, for police, military, or patrol work; detection work; or search -a nd-rescue; and being 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 offi cer'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 provide emergency care to the canine first responder while at the s ce 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. ON MARCH 26, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2069, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 makes the following changes:  Eliminates the requirement that the board of veterinary medical examiners promulgate rules to establish requirements for a licensed veterinarian to serve as an emergency veterinary medicine service director and approve a program to train emergency medical services personnel to transport and provide emergency care to a canine first responder.  Eliminates the requirement that emergency medical services personnel complete a training prior to transporting and providing emergency care to a canine first responder.  Provides that emergency medical services personnel are immune from discipline by the board of veterinary examiners for emergency medical services regulated by the Tennessee emergency medical services board. However, this provision does not provide immunity for the provision of veterinary medicine that emergency medical services personnel may provide during the transport of a canine first responder.  Provides that emergency service personnel transporting or providing care authorized by this bill are not engaged in the unauthorized practice of veterinary medicine.  Provides that emergency services personnel are immune from discipline from the Tennessee emergency medical services board regarding the provision of veterinary medicine."