An Act To Protect Persons Who Provide Assistance to Law Enforcement Dogs, Search and Rescue Dogs and Service Dogs
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1716
House Amendment HA_A_H612 (House)

HOUSE AMENDMENT "A " to H.P. 1196, L.D. 1716, Bill, "An Act To Protect 
Persons Who Provide Assistance to Law Enforcement Dogs, Search and Rescue Dogs 
and Service Dogs" 
Amend the bill in section 1 in §164-B in subsection 1 by striking out all of paragraph 
C (page 1, lines 14 to 18 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'C. "Law enforcement officer" means a person who by virtue of public employment 
is vested by law with a duty to maintain public order, to prosecute offenders and to 
make arrests for crimes.' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in §164-B in subsection 1 by inserting after paragraph D 
the following: 
'E. "Security services dog handler" means a security professional who is trained to 
partner with a law enforcement dog in the performance of the security professional's 
duties, who is actively certified pursuant to federal. national. regional or state 
standards and who is qualified to train, care for and work with a law enforcement 
dog,' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in §164-B in subsection 1 by relettering the paragraphs to 
read alphabetically. 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 164-B by striking out all of subsection 2 (page 1, lines 
to 35 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'2. Immunity. Notwithstanding any provision of any public or private and special 
law to the contrary. an emergency medical services person. a security services dog 
handler or a law enforcement officer who voluntarily, without the expectation of 
monetary or other compensation, renders first aid. emergency treatment or rescue 
assistance to a law enforcement dog, search and rescue dog or service dog that is 
unconscious. ill, injured or in need of rescue assistance is not liable for damages for an 
injury alleged to have been sustained by the dog nor for damages for the death of the dog 
alleged to have occurreq by reason of an act or omission in the rendering of the first aid, 
emergency treatment or rescue assistance unless it is established that the injury or the 
death was caused willfully, wantonly or recklessly or by gross negligence on the part of 
the emergency medical services person. security services dog handler or law enforcement 
officer.' 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
HOUSEAMENDMENT"A "toH.P.1196,L.D.1716 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 164-B in subsection 3 by striking out all of the 2nd 
paragraph (page 2, lines 1 to 4 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'This section applies to a law enforcement officer, security services dog handler or 
emergency medical services person who voluntarily renders first aid. emergency 
treatment or rescue assistance to a law enforcement dog. search and rescue dog or service 
dog, to the extent the officer, handler or person has received training in the medical 
stabilization of dogs.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment revises the bill to allow any law enforcement officer who has been 
trained to provide rescue services to provide those services for a law enforcement dog, 
search and rescue dog or service dog while being subject to the bill's inununity. It defines· 
the term "security services dog handler." It also clarifies that the inununity applies only if 
the law enforcement officer, security services dog handler or emergency medical services 
person has received training in the medical stabilization of dogs. 
SPONSOREDB~ _ 
(Representative MOONEN) 
TOWN: Portland 
HOUSE AMENDMENT