Bill Text: CA SB1305 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Emergency medical services providers: dogs and cats.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-2)

Status: (Passed) 2018-09-28 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 900, Statutes of 2018. [SB1305 Detail]

Download: California-2017-SB1305-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Senate  April 09, 2018

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 1305

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Introduced by Senator Glazer
(Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Baker and Steinorth)
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Cervantes and Mullin)

February 16, 2018

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An act to add Section 1799.109 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to emergency preveterinary services. emergency medical services providers.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 1305, as amended, Glazer. Emergency preveterinary services: immunity. Emergency medical services providers: dogs and cats: immunity.

Existing law, the Emergency Medical Services System and the Prehospital Emergency Medical Care Personnel Act (the act), establishes the Emergency Medical Services Authority to coordinate and integrate all state activities concerning emergency medical services, including, among other duties, establishing training standards for specified emergency services personnel. The act provides a qualified immunity for public entities and emergency rescue personnel providing emergency services. The act provides other exemptions from liability for specified professionals rendering emergency medical services.

Existing law, the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act, governs the practice of veterinary medicine in this state and makes it unlawful for any person to practice veterinary medicine in this state without a valid license issued pursuant to the act. For purposes of the act, the practice of veterinary medicine includes, among other things, administering a drug, appliance, or treatment for the cure or relief of a wound, fracture, or bodily injury of an animal.

This bill would authorize an emergency medical services provider, as defined, to provide preveterinary emergency care, as defined, to a dog or cat, basic first aid to dogs and cats, as defined, to the extent the provider has received commensurate training and is authorized by the employer to provide that care. The bill would exempt that provider and his or her employer from liability for civil damages, and would exempt the provider from other disciplinary action, for providing that care, except as specified. The definition of “preveterinary emergency care” “basic first aid for dogs and cats” for purposes of these provisions would specifically include, among other acts, administering oxygen, immobilizing fractures, and bandaging. The bill would also exempt a licensed veterinarian who acts in good faith from liability for an act or omission authorized by the bill, as specified.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Section 1799.109 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

1799.109.

 (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(1) California residents receive comfort and unconditional love on a daily basis from their household pets, particularly dogs and cats.

(2) California residents benefit from the special support, comfort, guidance, companionship, and therapy provided by dogs and cats.

(3) Pets provide critical support to many California residents with disabilities.

(4) Pets provide assistance and aid in the official duties of military personnel, peace officers, law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and search-and-rescue agencies.

(5) Personnel of some fire districts and other first responder agencies currently provide stabilizing, life-saving emergency care to dogs and cats, which violates the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act.

(6) In enacting this section, it is the intent of the Legislature to authorize emergency medical service providers to provide, on a voluntary basis, emergency preveterinary care basic first aid for dogs and cats in accordance with policies and procedures designed and implemented by the employers of those emergency medical services providers.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, including the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act, as set forth in Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 4800) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, an emergency medical services provider may provide preveterinary emergency care basic first aid to dogs and cats to the extent the provider has received commensurate training and is authorized by the employer to provide the care. Requirements governing the circumstances under which emergency medical services providers may provide preveterinary emergency care basic first aid to dogs and cats may be specified in the employer’s policies governing the provision of care.

(c) (1)An emergency medical services provider and his or her employer are not liable for civil damages, and an emergency medical services provider is not subject to criminal prosecution or professional disciplinary action, for an act or omission resulting from the provision of preveterinary emergency care basic first aid to dogs and cats pursuant to this section, unless the act or omission constitutes willful or wanton misconduct.

(2)A licensed veterinarian who acts in good faith in accordance with this section is not liable for damages, and is not subject to a civil action, criminal prosecution, or professional disciplinary action, for an act or omission that is authorized by this section.

(d) Notwithstanding any other law, this section does not impose a duty or obligation upon an emergency medical services provider to provide care to a dog or cat.

(e) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Cat” means a small domesticated feline animal that is kept as a pet. “Cat” does not include nondomesticated wild animals.

(2) “Dog” means a domesticated canine animal owned for companionship, service, therapeutic, or assistance purposes.

(3) “Emergency medical services provider” means a person who is certified or licensed to provide emergency medical services.

(4) “Employer” means an entity or organization that employs or enlists the services of an emergency medical services provider.

(5) (A) “Preveterinary emergency care” means the “Basic first aid to dogs and cats” means providing immediate medical stabilization of care to a dog or cat by an emergency medical services provider, in an emergency situation to which the emergency medical services provider is responding, through means that include, but are not limited to, include all of the following:

(i) Administering oxygen.

(ii) Opening and manually maintaining an airway.

(iii) Giving mouth-to-snout or mouth-to-barrier ventilation.

(iv) Managing ventilation by mask.

(v) Controlling hemorrhage with direct pressure.

(vi) Immobilizing fractures.

(vii) Bandaging.

(viii)Administering naloxone hydrochloride, if administering the drug is either in accordance with a written protocol established and provided by, or pursuant to a consultation with, a veterinarian licensed in this state.

(B) “Preveterinary emergency care” “Basic first aid to dogs and cats” is intended to enable the dog or cat to be transported as soon as practical to a veterinarian for treatment. “Preveterinary emergency care” “Basic first aid to dogs and cats” does not include care provided in response to an emergency call made solely for the purpose of tending to an injured dog or cat, unless a person’s life could be placed in danger attempting to save the life of the dog or cat.