Bill Text: NJ A5217 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Permits ambulance transport of injured law enforcement canine under certain circumstances.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-06-04 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee [A5217 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-A5217-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman GREGORY P. MCGUCKIN
District 10 (Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Permits ambulance transport of injured law enforcement canine under certain circumstances.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning law enforcement canines and supplementing Title 2A of the New Jersey Statutes and Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this act:
"Emergency care provider" means an emergency medical technician, paramedic, or member of a first aid, ambulance, or rescue squad.
"Emergency medical services provider" means any association, organization, company, department, agency, service, program, unit, or other entity that provides pre-hospital emergency medical care to patients in this State including, but not limited to, a basic life support ambulance service, a mobile intensive care unit, an air medical service, or a volunteer or non-volunteer first aid, rescue, and ambulance squad.
"Law enforcement canine" means a dog employed by a government entity for the principal purpose of aiding in the:
(1) detection of missing persons, cadavers, criminal activity, flammable materials, or incendiary devices;
(2) apprehension of criminal offenders;
(3) enforcement of laws; or
(4) investigation of fires.
b. (1) An emergency medical services provider may transport to a veterinary clinic or similar facility a law enforcement canine that is injured during the course of duty if there is no person requiring medical attention or transport at the time.
(2) An emergency care provider certified or licensed by the Department of Health pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2013, c.101 (C.26:2K-65) or section 2 of P.L.1984, c.146 (C.26:2K-8) and trained in canine tactical combat casualty care or another emergency canine care protocol may provide emergency care to a law enforcement canine injured during the course of duty if there is no person requiring medical attention or transport at the time.
(3) A member of a volunteer first aid, rescue, or ambulance squad in compliance with training standards adopted by the New Jersey State First Aid Council pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1987, c.284 (C.27:5F-22) and trained in canine tactical combat casualty care or another emergency canine care protocol may provide emergency care to a law enforcement canine injured during the course of duty if there is no person requiring medical attention or transport at the time.
c. The Commissioner of Health and the Director of the Office of Highway Traffic Safety in the Department of Law and Public Safety shall adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the provisions of this act in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.).
2. An emergency medical services provider or emergency care provider acting in good faith and within the scope of applicable regulations promulgated pursuant to this act shall be immune from civil or criminal liability resulting from transport or care provided to a law enforcement canine.
3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the 13th month next following enactment, except that the Commissioner of Health and the Director of the Office of Highway Traffic Safety in the Department of Law and Public Safety may take anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill permits emergency medical services providers to transport injured law enforcement canines to veterinary care by ambulance when injured during the course of duty.
The bill defines "emergency medical services providers" as any association, organization, company, department, agency, service, program, unit, or other entity that provides pre-hospital emergency medical care to patients in this State including, but not limited to, basic life support ambulance service, a mobile intensive care unit, an air medical service, or a volunteer or non-volunteer first aid, rescue, and ambulance squad. Under the bill, a "law enforcement canines" is a dog employed by a government entity to aid in the: detection of missing persons, cadavers, flammable or incendiary materials; apprehension of criminal offenders; enforcement of laws; or investigation of criminal activity.
The bill provides that if no person requires medical attention or transport, emergency medical services providers may transport injured law enforcement canines to emergency veterinary clinics or similar facilities. Additionally, certain emergency care providers may provide emergency care to injured law enforcement canines if: 1) no person requires care or transport at the time; 2) the provider is certified or licensed by the Department of Health or in compliance with training standards adopted by the New Jersey State First Aid Council; and 3) the provider is also trained in canine tactical combat casualty care or another emergency canine care protocol.
The bill also provides that emergency medical services providers and emergency care providers acting in good faith and within the scope of regulations promulgated by the Commissioner of Health or the Director of the Office of Highway Traffic Safety in the Department of Law and Public Safety pursuant to this bill are immune from civil or criminal liability resulting from transport or care provided to law enforcement canines.
