Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
The LEO K9 Protection Act strengthens federal penalties for harming law enforcement animals and improves emergency medical services for injured police dogs. The bill amends federal law to impose sentences of up to 15 years imprisonment and fines for anyone who harms police dogs or horses using a deadly or dangerous weapon while committing crimes. The legislation requires the Secretary of Transportation to publish guidance within 180 days on how emergency medical services personnel should care for injured police dogs, and to issue regulations within 240 days allowing paramedics and emergency medical technicians to transport injured police dogs to veterinary facilities and provide emergency care. The bill covers police animals working for federal, state, county, and local law enforcement agencies involved in criminal detection, law enforcement, and rescue operations, and includes an exemption for people providing emergency veterinary care in good faith. No specific federal funding is allocated in the bill; it directs relevant agencies to use existing federal guidelines and resources.
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