106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 5314

AN ACT

To amend title 10, United States Code, to facilitate

the adoption of retired military working dogs bylaw enforcement agencies, former handlers ofthese dogs, and other persons capable of caringfor these dogs.

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 5314

AN ACT

To amend title 10, United States Code, to facilitate the

adoption of retired military working dogs by law enforcement agencies, former handlers of these dogs, and other

persons capable of caring for these dogs.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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1 SECTION 1. PROMOTION OF ADOPTION OF MILITARY

2 WORKING DOGS.

3 (a) ADOPTION OF MILITARY WORKING DOGS.—

4 Chapter 153 of title 10, United States Code, is amended

5 by adding at the end the following new section:

6 ‘‘§ 2582. Military working dogs: transfer and adoption

7 at end of useful working life

8 ‘‘(a) AVAILABILITY FOR ADOPTION.—The Secretary

9 of Defense shall make a military working dog of the De10 partment of Defense available for adoption by a person

11 or entity referred to in subsection (c) at the end of the

12 dog’s useful working life or when the dog is otherwise ex13 cess to the needs of the Department, unless the dog has

14 been determined to be unsuitable for adoption under sub15 section (b).

16 ‘‘(b) SUITABILITY FOR ADOPTION.—The decision

17 whether a particular military working dog is suitable or

18 unsuitable for adoption under this section shall be made

19 by the commander of the last unit to which the dog is

20 assigned before being declared excess. The unit com21 mander shall consider the recommendations of the unit’s

22 veterinarian in making the decision regarding a dog’s

23 adoptability.

24 ‘‘(c) AUTHORIZED RECIPIENTS.—Military working

25 dogs may be adopted under this section by law enforce-
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1 ment agencies, former handlers of these dogs, and other

2 persons capable of humanely caring for these dogs.

3 ‘‘(d) CONSIDERATION.—The Secretary may authorize

4 the transfer a military working dog under this section

5 without charge to the recipient.

6 ‘‘(e) LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY FOR TRANSFERRED

7 DOGS.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the

8 United States shall not be subject to any suit, claim, de9 mand or action, liability, judgment, cost, or other fee aris10 ing out of any claim for personal injury or property dam11 age that results from, or is in any manner predicated

12 upon, the act or omission of a former military working

13 dog transferred under this section, including any training

14 provided to the dog while a military working dog.

15 ‘‘(f) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Secretary shall submit

16 to Congress an annual report specifying the number of

17 military working dogs adopted under this section during

18 the preceding year, the number of these dogs currently

19 awaiting adoption, and the number of these dogs

20 euthanized during the preceding year. With respect to

21 each euthanized military working dog, the report shall

22 contain an explanation of the reasons why the dog was

23 euthanized rather than retained for adoption under this

24 section.’’.
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1 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections

2 at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding

3 at the end the following new item:

‘‘2582. Military working dogs: transfer and adoption at end of useful working

life.’’.

Passed the House of Representatives October 10,

2000.

Attest:

Clerk.