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AB 463

Relating to: eligibility for an occupational license for individuals with four or more convictions of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Barbara Dittrich and 5 co-sponsors

Allows licensed ambulances and tribal ambulances to transport injured police/S&R dogs to a vet when no human transport is needed, with basic first aid and limited immunity.

Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Goeben
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · AB 463

Summary — AB 463 (Michelle Rodriguez): Emergency medical services — police canines & search‑and‑rescue dogs

Note: The package you provided contains multiple, different bills numbered “AB 463” from different jurisdictions (including Nevada documents about prior authorization). This summary covers the California bill materials in the packet (Legislative Counsel’s Digest and bill text for AB 463 by Michelle Rodriguez) concerning emergency medical services for working dogs (added Health & Safety Code §1797.10 and amendments to §1799.109). Please advise if you want a summary of the other AB 463 material instead.

Purpose

Authorize licensed ambulance operators and certain tribal fire‑department ambulance operators to transport injured police canines and search‑and‑rescue dogs to veterinary clinics when transporting humans is not required, and clarify/reaffirm emergency responder authority and liability protections for providing basic first aid to those animals during transport.

Key provisions (what the bill would do)

  • New Health & Safety Code §1797.10:

    • Defines “police canine” and references Civil Code definition for “search and rescue dog.”
    • Authorizes a person licensed under Vehicle Code §2510 (ambulance operator) or a person operating ambulances owned/operated by a fire department of a federally recognized Indian tribe to transport a police canine or search & rescue dog injured in the line of duty to a veterinary clinic or similar facility when no other person requires medical attention or transport.
    • Requires, “to the extent feasible,” that the animal’s handler accompany the animal during transport to maintain control.
    • Permits emergency responders to provide basic first aid to such dogs during transport (explicitly notwithstanding Business & Professions Code §4825 regarding veterinary practice).
    • Provides civil and criminal immunity for emergency responders who act in good faith and not for compensation when providing basic first aid during transport, except for gross negligence or willful/wanton misconduct. Clarifies that providing such aid does not make the transport/care “for compensation” even if the responder is salaried.
    • States neither ambulance operators nor emergency responders are required to provide transport or first aid to these animals; EMS contracts cannot require such care/transport as a condition of award.
    • Requires ambulance operators that elect to provide such transport (except tribal fire department ambulances) to develop policies (e.g., equipment to carry, decontamination procedures) and submit them for approval to the local emergency medical services (EMS) agency.

  • Amendments to §1799.109:

    • Makes clarifying changes to existing statutory language authorizing emergency responders to render basic first aid to dogs and cats (and to protect them from criminal/professional discipline for such voluntary care).

Who is affected

  • Ambulance operators licensed under Vehicle Code §2510 (private ambulance services) and ambulances operated by fire departments of federally recognized tribes (transport authorization).
  • Emergency responders (paramedics, EMTs, other personnel) who may provide basic first aid to injured working dogs during transport.
  • Law enforcement, fire departments, search & rescue organizations that own or employ police canines/search dogs and their handlers.
  • Local EMS agencies (responsible for approving ambulance operator policies).
  • Veterinary clinics and animal care facilities receiving transported working dogs.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Bill introduced (as provided) in early 2025; Legislative Counsel digests and committee referrals appear in April–June 2025 (Assembly Health, Appropriations, Senate Health, Senate Judiciary).
  • Digest key: Majority vote, no appropriation, fiscal committee review required.
  • The bill expressly limits obligations (does not compel transport/aid) and establishes local EMS review for operator policies.

Potential impacts / considerations

  • Operational: EMS providers electing to transport animals must adopt policies, carry additional equipment, and implement decontamination procedures before returning an ambulance to human patient use.
  • Liability: Clarified immunity likely reduces legal risk for responders acting in good faith; however, gross negligence remains actionable.
  • Resource management: Transport allowed only when no human needs care — intended to avoid diverting ambulances from human patients, but local EMS agencies will need to evaluate policy impacts on resource availability.
  • Tribal provision: Several tribal‑operated ambulances are explicitly included for transport authorization, but the policy‑submission requirement exempts tribal fire department ambulances.

If you would like, I can:
- Produce a short legislative timeline tracing the bill’s committee actions and amendments in the packet; or
- Summarize the unrelated Nevada AB 463 (prior authorization) materials included among your documents.

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

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