NY State Senate Bill 2025-S1294

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Codes Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 09, 2025	referred to codes

co-Sponsors

2025-S1294 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A663
Current Committee:: Senate Codes
Law Section:: Executive Law
Laws Affected:: Add §837-d-1, amd §837, Exec L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2021-2022: S7048, A8065
2023-2024: S1070, A1494

2025-S1294 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes the canine officer health monitoring fund which allows for applicants to request reimbursement from the division of criminal justice services for health costs related to regular health or injury associated with canine officers.

2025-S1294 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S1294

SPONSOR: BORRELLO
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing the
canine officer health monitoring fund

 
PURPOSE:

Relates to establishing the Canine Officer Health Monitoring Fund

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section one Amends the Executive law to allow applicants authorized to
and employs canine officers (police dogs) may apply to the commissioner
for reimbursement of funds expended for all health costs related to
regular health or injury associated with canine officers.

Section two directs the commissioners to maintain and annually update a
list of claims made to the division for reimbursement for health costs
related to regular health or injury associated with canine officers,

along with relevant data related to such reimbursement.

Section three, this act shall take effect immediately

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The Officer Down Memorial page lists 357 Canine Officers (Police Dogs)
listed as killed in the line of duty from 1877 to 2018. The most common
cause was gunfire at page 101, Heat at page 62 and struck by vehicle at
page 56. This sample is voluntarily provide by departments throughout
the country, but it is the most information available, as there is no
current state or federal monitoring once the Canine Officers are certi-
fied. They become the property/personnel of the department of their
handler.

Because each department maintains their own records, large scale studies
of the health and safety is exceedingly rare. Basic questions like 'how
many are there in New York State' or 'how long do they typically serve'
are anecdotal or approximations. This bill would seek to correct this
issue by creating a fund to reimburse for health care related costs
associated with a canine officer program, and to maintain a record of
the claims to collect data to improve the health and safety of the
service animals.

Recently, this issue has become especially essential. In 2017, the U.S.
Drug Enforcement Administration issued a warning to every law enforce-
ment agency on the dangers of cross-contamination and inhalation of
novel synthetic opioids by officers; specifically Fentanyl, Carfentanil,
U-47700 (Pink), JW18, and others. The Morphine Milligram Equivalence
(MME) of these substances would increase the morphine equivalent inhala-
tion from one Picogram to one Nanogram; equating to a Milligram (MME)
per 100 inhalations during a search by a canine officer.

With a lack of data and an increasing threat of novel synthetic
()plaids, this monitoring system will identify potential hazards to
their health and safety, as well as ease the cost of maintaining a
canine program for local police departments. Especially as departments
are tasked with retraining narcotics detection canines post marijuana
legalization. Many departments are assessing whether they can afford the
program; which may cost as much as $70,000.

Canine officers are part of the law enforcement community. We as a state
should consider their protection as part of the overall dedication we
have for those who serve. As the state looks to adapt to the opioid
pandemic and marijuana legalization, this program will assist local law
enforcement in the protection of their canine officers.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2024: S1070/A1494 Referred to Codes

2023: S1070/A1494 Referred to Codes

2022: S.7048 Referred to Consumer Protection

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2025-S1294 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1294
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              January 9, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sens. BORRELLO, HELMING, MATTERA, OBERACKER -- read twice
   and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee
   on Codes
 
 AN ACT to amend the executive  law,  in  relation  to  establishing  the
   canine officer health monitoring fund
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The executive law  is  amended  by  adding  a  new  section
 837-d-1 to read as follows:
   §  837-D-1.  CANINE OFFICER HEALTH MONITORING FUND. 1. AS USED IN THIS
 SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   (A) "CANINE OFFICER" SHALL MEAN A DOG THAT IS SPECIFICALLY TRAINED  TO
 ASSIST POLICE AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL.
   (B)  "APPLICANT"  MEANS  A STATE AGENCY, MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, PUBLIC
 AUTHORITY, PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION, OR THE HIGHEST OFFICIAL THEREOF.
   2. AN APPLICANT WHICH IS AUTHORIZED TO AND EMPLOYS CANINE OFFICERS MAY
 APPLY TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF FUNDS  EXPENDED  FOR  ALL
 HEALTH  COSTS RELATED TO REGULAR HEALTH OR INJURY ASSOCIATED WITH CANINE
 OFFICERS.
   3. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL REQUIRE ANY APPLICANT SEEKING  REIMBURSEMENT
 FOR  HEALTH  COSTS  RELATED  TO REGULAR HEALTH OR INJURY ASSOCIATED WITH
 CANINE OFFICERS TO APPLY FOR ANY AVAILABLE FEDERAL FUNDS. ANY  APPLICANT
 FAILING  TO  DO  SO  SHALL  NOT  BE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT UNDER THIS
 SECTION. THE COMMISSIONER MAY WAIVE SUCH FAILURE  FOR  GOOD  CAUSE.  THE
 COMMISSIONER  SHALL MAINTAIN A PUBLIC RECORD OF ALL SUCH WAIVERS AND THE
 REASONS THEREFOR. REIMBURSEMENT MAY BE  WITHHELD  PENDING  THE  DETERMI-
 NATION OF AN APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL FUNDS.
   4.  AN  APPLICANT  FOR  REIMBURSEMENT  PURSUANT  TO THIS SECTION SHALL
 REPORT THE NAME OF EACH CANINE OFFICER FOR WHOM REIMBURSEMENT IS SOUGHT.
 THE APPLICANT SHALL REPORT WHETHER SUCH CANINE OFFICER OR OFFICERS HAVE,
 AT ANY TIME DURING THE TEN YEARS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING  THE  APPLICATION
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD01658-01-5

 S. 1294                             2
 
 FOR REIMBURSEMENT, HAD ANY HEALTH COSTS FOR WHICH REIMBURSEMENT PURSUANT
 TO  THIS  SECTION WAS PROVIDED, THE DATE OF ANY SUCH PRIOR REIMBURSEMENT
 AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION THAT THE COMMISSIONER MAY REQUIRE FOR ACCURATE
 RECORD-KEEPING AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
   5.  THE  AMOUNT OF ANY REIMBURSEMENT AUTHORIZED TO BE MADE PURSUANT TO
 THIS SECTION SHALL BE REDUCED BY THE AMOUNT OF ANY FEDERAL FUNDS GRANTED
 TO THE APPLICANT FOR THE PURPOSE OF  HEALTH  COSTS  RELATED  TO  REGULAR
 HEALTH  OR  INJURY ASSOCIATED WITH CANINE OFFICERS, AND BY THE AMOUNT OF
 ANY OTHER FUNDS RECEIVED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FOR THAT PURPOSE BY  THE
 APPLICANT.
   6. NOTHING CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO PROHIBIT AN
 APPLICANT FROM EXPENDING ITS OWN FUNDS FOR HEALTH COSTS RELATED TO REGU-
 LAR  HEALTH OR INJURY ASSOCIATED WITH CANINE OFFICERS IN AMOUNTS EXCEED-
 ING THE ESTABLISHED STATE REIMBURSEMENT LIMITATIONS.
   7. THE COMMISSIONER IS AUTHORIZED TO PROMULGATE RULES AND  REGULATIONS
 TO  PROVIDE  FOR  THE  ORDERLY  EFFECTUATION  OF  THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
 SECTION.
   § 2. Section 837 of the executive law  is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 subdivision 24 to read as follows:
   24.  (A)  MAINTAIN  AND  ANNUALLY  UPDATE A LIST OF CLAIMS MADE TO THE
 DIVISION FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR HEALTH COSTS RELATED TO REGULAR HEALTH OR
 INJURY ASSOCIATED WITH CANINE OFFICERS ALONG WITH RELEVANT DATA RELATING
 TO SUCH REIMBURSEMENT. SUCH DATA SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (I) THE NAME OF THE CANINE OFFICER;
   (II) THE DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY THE CANINE OFFICER IS EMPLOYED BY;
   (III) THE AGE OF THE CANINE;
   (IV) THE CANINE'S YEARS OF SERVICE;
   (V) THE CANINE'S PRIMARY JOB PURPOSE;
   (VI) THE CANINE'S SECONDARY PURPOSE, IF APPLICABLE;
   (VII) ANY INJURIES OR REGULAR HEALTH MAINTENANCE;
   (VIII) THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE CANINE IS EMPLOYED  AND  ANY  SECONDARY
 COUNTIES THAT THE CANINE IS LOCATED;
   (IX) CANINE BREED;
   (X) WHETHER THE CANINE IS CURRENTLY RETIRED; AND
   (XI)  ANY  OTHER  RELEVANT DATA AS DETERMINED APPROPRIATE BY THE DIVI-
 SION.
   (B) FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION, "JOB PURPOSE" SHALL MEAN ONE  OF
 THE FOLLOWING:
   (I) NARCOTIC DETECTION;
   (II) EXPLOSIVES DETECTION;
   (III) OFFICER PROTECTION;
   (IV) TRACKING/SEARCHES;
   (V) CADAVER;
   (VI) THERAPY; OR
   (VII) OTHER.
   (C)  ANY  DE-IDENTIFIED  INFORMATION  OR  DATA SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE
 THROUGH A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST PURSUANT TO ARTICLE SIX OF  THE
 PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S1294

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Codes Committee

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co-Sponsors

2025-S1294 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S1294 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S1294 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S1294 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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Sponsored By

George M. Borrello

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Codes Committee

Actions

co-Sponsors

Pamela Helming

Mario R. Mattera

Peter Oberacker

2025-S1294 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S1294 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S1294 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S1294 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments