House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.
Amends the criteria for what constitutes a retired law enforcement canine under GS 143-166.91 (definitions for new Article 12I) so that in order to qualify under the statute, the dog would have been in the service of or owned (was, employed by) an qualified agency and retired on or after July 1, 2024 (currently, no date is specified). Expands the type of qualifying activities to include detection of explosives or narcotics and includes these activities in the certification requirement of the definition. Amends GS 143-166.92, (reimbursement) so that the cap on the reimbursement for veterinary care is $1,500 per fiscal year (was, calendar year) and that the owner must seek reimbursement within 90 days of the date of the veterinary care received by the retired law enforcement canine (was, reimbursement must be for care occurring in the calendar year).
Amends GS 17F-21 (disposition of retired service animals) to specify that the statute does not prevent the owner of a retired law enforcement canine from applying for reimbursement for veterinary care for a retired law enforcement canine under new Article 12I.
Makes technical and organizational changes.
VET CARE FOR RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT DOGS.
Printer-friendly: Click to view
| View NCGA Bill Details | 2023-2024 Session |
AN ACT TO REIMBURSE THE VETERINARY CARE OF RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT CANINES.Intro. by Gillespie, Bradford, Greene, Logan.
Bill History:
-
Thu, 2 May 2024 House: Filed
-
Tue, 7 May 2024 House: Passed 1st Reading
-
Thu, 23 May 2024 House: Reptd Fav Com Substitute
-
Thu, 23 May 2024 House: Re-ref Com On Appropriations
Bill Summaries:
-
Bill H 1042 (2023-2024)Summary date: May 23 2024 - View Summary
-
Bill H 1042 (2023-2024)Summary date: May 2 2024 - View Summary
Enacts Article 12I, “Retired Law Enforcement Canine Veterinary Care Reimbursements” to GS Chapter 143, to provide a system of veterinary care reimbursement for retired law enforcement canines in consideration of the hazardous public service they provided to the people of this State. Defines correctional agency, law enforcement agency, retired law enforcement canine, and veterinary care. Adds new GS 143-166.92 to provide for reimbursement of up to $1,500 in reimbursement per year for veterinary care for a retired law enforcement canine provided in the year the application for reimbursement is submitted. Creates the Retired Law Enforcement Canine Fund (Fund) in the Department of Public Safety (DPS). Allows DPS to make necessary rules and regulations for the administration of the provisions of new Article 12I, and have the authority to use up to 1% of monies received by the Fund for the purpose of administering the Fund. Specifies that all of DPS’s decisions necessary for the administration of the Article, and its decisions, are final and conclusive and not subject to review or reversal except by the DPS Secretary or the Secretary's designee. Adds new GS 143-166.94, requiring DPS to keep records of applications received, application determinations, and all funds dispersed.
Adds new GS 143-166.95, specifying that the benefits provided above don’t affect other benefits for retired law enforcement canines and that the benefits provided above are not affected by the provision of other benefits to retired law enforcement canines. Specifies that owners of retired law enforcement canines are not required to seek reimbursement for veterinary care under the Article and the failure to seek that reimbursement in a given year does not preclude an owner from seeking future reimbursement.
Appropriates $300,000 from the General Fund to the Fund in recurring funds for the 2024-2025 fiscal year to be used in accordance with the provisions of the act.
Effective July 1, 2024, and applies to retired law enforcement canines retiring on or after that date.