Enacts the "veterinary care of retired law enforcement and fire service canines act"

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Steve Stern

Provides up to 2,500/year and 10,000 lifetime veterinary reimbursement for retired public safety canines, funded and administered by a new state fund.

REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

Purpose and intent

Establishes a program to reimburse reasonable veterinary care for retired public safety canines (formerly owned and used by state/local law enforcement or municipal/volunteer fire departments) after they retire from active duty.

Recognizes the important public safety role of these canines and aims to ensure humane, ongoing care following service.

Key provisions

Scope and eligibility

Applies to dogs formerly owned and used by:

State or local law enforcement agencies; or
Municipal or volunteer fire departments or fire protection districts in New York.

Retired canines must have been retired from active duty for the reimbursement program to apply.

Reimbursement is provided to an individual who assumes ownership of the canine under a written agreement with the retiring agency or department.

Reimbursement terms

Eligible expenses: usual and customary veterinary treatment not attributable to abuse or neglect, verified by written receipts.

Annual limit: up to $2,500 per calendar year per retired canine.

Lifetime limit: up to $10,000 per canine over its lifetime.

Reimbursement is intended to cover veterinary care and reasonable administrative expenses related to the program.

Administration and oversight

The Division of State Police (in consultation with the Office of Fire Prevention and Control and the Division of the Budget) will coordinate with other state/local agencies to administer the program.

The Division of State Police, in coordination with the Office of Fire Prevention and Control, will promulgate necessary rules and regulations to implement the program.

Funding

Establishes the Retired Public Safety Canine Veterinary Care Fund (a new fund under the State Finance Law).

Fund sources: solely from monies appropriated by the legislature for the purposes of this act.

Fund characteristics: continuing fund (does not lapse at year-end) and expenditures are limited to appropriations for reimbursement of veterinary care and related administrative costs.

Reporting

Annual report requirement to the Governor, the Temporary President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the Assembly.

Reports to include:

Number of retired canines receiving reimbursement.
Total amount expended on reimbursement.
Recommendations for program improvements.

Effective date

Takes effect July 1 of the year following enactment.

Who is affected

Retired law enforcement and fire service canines in New York.

Owners/handlers who assume ownership under written agreements with their former employing agency or department.

State police, fire prevention and control office, and budget division for administration and regulation.

Legislative and executive entities responsible for funding and oversight (Governor, Senate, Assembly).

Potential impact

Improves humane post-service care for public safety canines by providing structured financial support for veterinary needs.

Creates a standardized program with clear annual and lifetime caps to manage costs.

Requires administrative oversight and annual reporting to monitor usage and inform potential improvements.

Establishes a dedicated fund to ensure ongoing availability of resources for eligible canines.

Bill