Assembly Bill A11117

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   11117
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              April 24, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. STERN -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Governmental Operations
 
 AN ACT to amend the executive law and the state finance law, in relation
   to enacting the "veterinary care of retired law enforcement  and  fire
   service canines act"
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "veterinary
 care of retired law enforcement and fire service canines act".
   § 2. Legislative findings. 1. Law enforcement and fire service canines
 have become an integral part of public safety operations throughout  the
 state  of New York, including suspect apprehension, arson and accelerant
 detection, evidence location, narcotics and explosives detection, disas-
 ter response, and search and rescue operations.
   2. Law enforcement and fire service canines provide an extremely cost-
 effective and invaluable service to the people of the state of New York.
   3. The duties performed by law enforcement and  fire  service  canines
 are  often  dangerous and result in higher rates of injury and long-term
 medical conditions than those experienced by non-working dogs.
   4. Retired service canines deserve humane  treatment  and  appropriate
 veterinary care after years of faithful service protecting the residents
 of the state of New York.
   §  3. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 236 to read
 as follows:
   § 236. VETERINARY CARE OF RETIRED LAW  ENFORCEMENT  AND  FIRE  SERVICE
 CANINES.  1. THIS SECTION SHALL APPLY TO ANY DOG FORMERLY OWNED AND USED
 BY:
   (A) A STATE OR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY; OR
   (B) A MUNICIPAL  OR  VOLUNTEER  FIRE  DEPARTMENT  OR  FIRE  PROTECTION
 DISTRICT  WITHIN  THE  STATE  OF  NEW YORK FOR OFFICIAL PUBLIC SAFETY OR
 EMERGENCY SERVICE PURPOSES.
   2. A STATE OR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY  OR  FIRE  DEPARTMENT  THAT
 RETIRES  A SERVICE CANINE FROM ACTIVE DUTY SHALL REIMBURSE AN INDIVIDUAL
 WHO, PURSUANT TO A WRITTEN AGREEMENT WITH  SUCH  AGENCY  OR  DEPARTMENT,
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD14910-01-6
 A. 11117                            2
 
 ASSUMES  OWNERSHIP OF SUCH CANINE ON OR AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
 SECTION FOR REASONABLE AND NECESSARY VETERINARY  TREATMENT  PROVIDED  TO
 SUCH CANINE.
   3. REIMBURSEMENT AUTHORIZED UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL:
   (A) BE LIMITED TO USUAL AND CUSTOMARY VETERINARY TREATMENT THAT IS NOT
 ATTRIBUTABLE TO ABUSE OR NEGLECT AND IS VERIFIED BY WRITTEN RECEIPTS;
   (B)  NOT  EXCEED  TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS PER CALENDAR YEAR;
 AND
   (C) NOT EXCEED TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE CANINE.
   4. THE DIVISION OF STATE POLICE, IN CONSULTATION WITH  THE  OFFICE  OF
 FIRE  PREVENTION  AND CONTROL AND THE DIVISION OF THE BUDGET, SHALL WORK
 WITH OTHER STATE OR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND FIRE  DEPARTMENTS
 TO  ADMINISTER  THE  REIMBURSEMENT  PROGRAM ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO THIS
 SECTION AND SHALL PROMULGATE SUCH RULES AND REGULATIONS AS ARE NECESSARY
 TO CARRY OUT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
   5. EXPENDITURES FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM ESTABLISHED PURSUANT  TO
 THIS SECTION SHALL BE MADE FROM THE RETIRED PUBLIC SAFETY CANINE VETERI-
 NARY  CARE  FUND  ESTABLISHED  PURSUANT TO SECTION NINETY-NINE-UU OF THE
 STATE FINANCE LAW. MONEYS EXPENDED PURSUANT TO  THIS  SECTION  SHALL  BE
 SUPPLEMENTAL  TO,  AND  SHALL NOT SUPPLANT, ANY OTHER FUNDS APPROPRIATED
 FOR THE CARE OF RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT OR FIRE SERVICE CANINES.
   6. THE DIVISION OF STATE POLICE, IN COORDINATION WITH  THE  OFFICE  OF
 FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL, SHALL SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE GOVER-
 NOR,  THE  TEMPORARY  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  SENATE, AND THE SPEAKER OF THE
 ASSEMBLY WHICH SHALL INCLUDE:
   (A) THE NUMBER OF RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT  AND  FIRE  SERVICE  CANINES
 RECEIVING REIMBURSEMENT;
   (B) THE TOTAL AMOUNT EXPENDED ON SUCH REIMBURSEMENT; AND
   (C) ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM.
   § 4. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 99-uu to
 read as follows:
   §  99-UU. RETIRED PUBLIC SAFETY CANINE VETERINARY CARE FUND. 1.  THERE
 IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED IN THE JOINT CUSTODY OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER  AND
 THE  COMMISSIONER  OF  TAXATION  AND  FINANCE, A FUND TO BE KNOWN AS THE
 RETIRED PUBLIC SAFETY CANINE VETERINARY CARE FUND.
   2. MONEYS IN SUCH FUND SHALL CONSIST SOLELY OF FUNDS  APPROPRIATED  BY
 THE  LEGISLATURE  FOR  THE PURPOSES OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-SIX OF
 THE EXECUTIVE LAW.
   3. SUCH FUND SHALL BE A CONTINUING FUND AND SHALL  NOT  LAPSE  AT  THE
 CLOSE OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
   4.  EXPENDITURES  FROM SUCH FUND SHALL BE MADE ONLY PURSUANT TO APPRO-
 PRIATION AND ONLY FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF VETERINARY  CARE  AND  REASONABLE
 ADMINISTRATIVE  EXPENSES  RELATED TO THE PROGRAM ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO
 SECTION TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-SIX OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW.
   § 5. This act shall take effect on the first of July  next  succeeding
 the date on which it shall have become a law.