What's happening
This bill creates a fund to reimburse law enforcement agencies for health costs of police dogs and requires detailed record-keeping.
Why it matters
Creates a dedicated funding stream for police dog health costs. , helping local law enforcement agencies better manage the often substantial veterinary and injury expenses associated with maintaining canine units.
Requires agencies to seek out federal funding first. , ensuring that state reimbursements supplement—rather than duplicate—other available resources, which could stretch state funds further and encourage efficient use of public money.
Mandates detailed, standardized reporting about each police dog and their health claims. , increasing transparency and accountability about how public funds are spent and generating a comprehensive dataset on police canine health and deployment across New York.
Makes de-identified data available to the public via Freedom of Information requests. , which could aid researchers, advocates, and policymakers interested in the welfare of police dogs, their working conditions, and trends in their employment.
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Who cares
State and local law enforcement agencies with canine units
The bill would let eligible agencies seek reimbursement for canine health and injury costs, reduced by federal aid and other funds received for those costs.
Agencies seeking canine health reimbursements
Applicants would have to apply for available federal funds unless excused for good cause and report each dog's name and reimbursement history over the preceding ten years.
Division of Criminal Justice Services
The division would have to maintain and annually update canine reimbursement claims data, including dogs' ages, breeds, duties, health needs and retirement status.
Reporters and government watchdogs
De-identified reimbursement data would be available through Freedom of Information Law requests, and federal-funding application waivers and their reasons would be publicly recorded.
Headline styles
Fund Police Dog Health
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to governmental operations
- Referred to governmental operations
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Fund Police Dog Health Care
In Senate Committee · Codes · Sponsor George Borrello
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
663
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. BUTTENSCHON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
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 Assembly, 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 determination 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
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 regular health or injury associated with canine officers in amounts exceeding 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 division.
(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.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.