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S 4003

Establishes the "Safe Staffing for Hospital Care Act"

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Kevin Parker

Establishes the Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Grant Program under the DMVA to fund nonprofits providing service dogs to disabled veterans, with oversight and dog insurance.

REFERRED TO HEALTH
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Bill Summary · S 4003

Summary of Bill S 4003 (Safe Staffing for Hospital Care Act)

Note: The bill’s introduced text centers on a veteran service dog grant program within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, rather than hospital staffing provisions. The bill is titled “Safe Staffing for Hospital Care Act,” but the introduced content establishes a Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Grant Program. The bill status, sponsor, and actions are noted below.

Purpose and intent

  • To establish a grant program administered by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to fund nonprofit organizations that provide service dogs to disabled veterans.
  • To promote access to service dogs for veterans, with standards for training, humane animal treatment, and accreditation.

Key provisions

  • Definitions

    • Disabled veteran: State resident, honorably discharged from active U.S. armed forces, with a service-connected disability recognized by the VA or its successor.
    • Nonprofit organization: Private 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
    • Service dog: Any dog trained to assist a person with a disability, including seizure dogs for epilepsy or seizure disorders.

  • Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Grant Program

    • Establishes a grant program within DMVA to award grants to nonprofit organizations for providing service dogs to disabled veterans.
    • DMVA must develop guidelines, application procedures, evaluation criteria, grant terms, compliance monitoring, and reporting requirements.

  • Application requirements (examples)

    • Plan to provide service dogs to veterans and how outreach will increase accessibility.
    • Details of training for veterans and dogs.
    • Additional support services and a marketing plan targeting veterans.
    • Verification of humane standards for animals.
    • Proof of accreditation by Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF).

  • Prohibitions and benefits

    • Grants cannot be charged as a fee to disabled veterans receiving a service dog through the program.
    • DMVA must provide a commercially available veterinary insurance policy for each service dog, continuing regardless of the grant’s status.

  • Oversight and compliance

    • Recipients must report grant fund usage to DMVA.
    • DMVA may adopt rules under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).

  • Funding and budget

    • The Adjutant General must include a funding request in the annual DMVA budget to support the program.

  • Reporting

    • DMVA must report annually to the Governor and the Legislature on the program’s effectiveness in connecting veterans with service dogs, during years a grant is awarded.

  • Effective date

    • Takes effect 30 days after enactment, with potential anticipatory administrative action by DMVA to implement.

Affected parties

  • Disabled veterans seeking service dogs.
  • Nonprofit organizations that provide service dogs to veterans.
  • DMVA, which administers the grant program and reporting.
  • Accrediting bodies (ADI and IGDF) as part of eligibility.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Introduced: January 14, 2025.
  • Initially referred to Senate Military and Veterans’ Affairs; subsequently referred to Health (January 31, 2025).
  • Implementation contingent on future appropriations by the Legislature.

Sponsor

  • Senator Kevin S. Parker (primary). Related companion bills exist in the Assembly (e.g., A 5109, A 7095).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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