---
title: HB 990. Public Safety, Department of; creation of a program to assist former handlers and adopters of retired law enforcement dogs with veterinary care costs; provide
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb990
cite_as: HB 990, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb990
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb990.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb990/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72257
date: 2026-03-25
status: engrossed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 610
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb990.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 990
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-03-04
last_action: Senate Read Second Time
sponsors:
- Steven Sainz
- Bill Hitchens
- Clint Crowe
- Soo Hong
- Sandy Donatucci
- Imani Barnes
- Kay Kirkpatrick
text_version: Comm Sub
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB990/2025
upstream_id: 2083439
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- law enforcement K9s
- veterinary care funding
- public safety grants
- animal welfare
- Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
---
# HB 990. Public Safety, Department of; creation of a program to assist former handlers and adopters of retired law enforcement dogs with veterinary care costs; provide
## Text
The Senate Committee on Public Safety offered the following
substitute to HB 990:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 6A of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the
Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, so as to provide for the creation of a grant program
to assist former handlers and adopters of retired law enforcement dogs, charitable
organizations serving such dogs, and qualified law enforcement foundations with veterinary
care costs for such dogs; to provide for purposes and authority of the grant program; to
provide for sources of funding; to provide for administration of the program by the council;
to establish criteria and procedures for such grants; to provide for annual grant limit; to
provide for definitions; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters;
to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA
SECTION 1.
Chapter 6A of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Criminal
Justice Coordinating Council, is amended by revising Code Section 35-6A-13, which is
reserved, as follows:
"35-6A-13.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Charitable organization' means an organization that meets the requirements of
paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Code Section 14-3-1302, provided that such
organization is recognized as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code and has been so qualified for not less than five years and that assists former
handlers or adopters of retired law enforcement dogs with their veterinary care.
(2) 'Correctional agency' means a governmental unit of one or more persons employed
full time or part time by the state, a state agency or department, or a political subdivision
of the state for the primary purpose of providing supervision, protection, care, custody,
control, or investigation of persons at a penal institution.
(3) 'Law enforcement agency' means a governmental unit of one or more persons
employed full time or part time by the state, a state agency or department, or a political
subdivision of the state for the purpose of preventing and detecting crime and enforcing
state laws or local ordinances, employees of which unit are authorized to make arrests for
crimes while acting within the scope of their authority.
(4) 'Licensed veterinarian' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code
Section 43-50-3.
(5) 'Penal institution' means any place of confinement for persons accused of or
convicted of violating a law of this state or an ordinance of a municipality or political
subdivision of this state.
(6) 'Qualified law enforcement foundation' shall have the same meaning as set forth in
Code Section 48-7-29.25.
(7) 'Retired law enforcement dog' means a dog that meets the following criteria:
(A) The dog was previously in the service of or employed by a law enforcement
agency or correctional agency in this state for the principal purpose of aiding in the
detection of criminal activity, enforcement of laws, apprehension of offenders, or
detection of accelerants, explosives, or narcotics, or for assisting with search and rescue
operations; and
(B) The dog received certification in obedience, apprehension, accelerant detection,
explosive detection, narcotic detection, or search and rescue from a nationally
recognized organization that certifies dogs performing that type of work.
(8) 'Veterinary care' means the practice of veterinary medicine by a licensed veterinarian
as set forth in Code Section 43-50-3. Such term shall include annual wellness
examinations, vaccinations, internal and external parasite prevention treatments, testing
and treatment of illnesses and diseases, medications, emergency care and surgeries,
veterinary oncology or other specialty care, euthanasia, and cremation.
(b) Law enforcement dogs provide critical support to public safety and are required to
undergo training and provide services that present special needs and adoption limitations
for such dogs upon their retirement. Ensuring that law enforcement dogs are properly
cared for in retirement and incentivizing and enabling former handlers and potential
adopters to provide such care thus serves the public interest.
(c)(1) The council shall establish a grant program to provide financial assistance for the
veterinary care of retired law enforcement dogs.
(2) The grants provided pursuant to this Code section shall be subject to funding from
gifts, grants, donations, devises, or other contributions of money or property from private
individuals, corporations, nonprofit organizations, or foundations, provided that such
contributions are voluntary and no contributor to the grant program receives any special
privilege, consideration, or benefit.
(3) Subject to available funding, the grants awarded under this Code section shall
disburse funds for the actual expenses incurred for a retired law enforcement dog's
veterinary care by such dog's former handler or adopter, a charitable organization, or a
qualified law enforcement foundation upon receipt and verification of:
(A) A grant application seeking reimbursement for veterinary care;
(B) Documentation from the law enforcement agency or correctional agency from
which the dog retired verifying that such dog was in the service of or employed by such
agency; and
(C) Documentation from a licensed veterinarian verifying the veterinary care provided
in this state to such retired law enforcement dog and the payment made by the former
handler or adopter, a charitable organization, or a qualified law enforcement foundation
for such care.
(d) The council shall establish and administer:
(1) Eligibility and selection criteria for grant applicants that comply with the provisions
of this Code section;
(2) Grant application procedures, including guidelines for the application and
documentation required by subsection (c) of this Code section;
(3) Guidelines relating to grant amounts which shall include a requirement that the
disbursements to an applicant for the veterinary care of a retired law enforcement dog
shall not exceed $5,000.00 per dog per calendar year;
(4) Procedures for evaluating grant applications; and
(5) Procedures for monitoring and reporting on the use of any grant awarded under the
grant program and ensuring compliance with the provisions of this Code section.
(e) The council is authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary
to carry out the provisions of this Code section. Reserved."
SECTION 2.
This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law
without such approval.
SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
HB 990 would create a state grant program to help pay veterinary bills for retired Georgia law enforcement and correctional dogs, benefiting the former handlers, adopters, charities, and law enforcement foundations who care for them.
### Plain-language summary
Currently, Georgia law does not have a dedicated program to help cover veterinary costs for police or corrections dogs after they retire from service. HB 990 fills in a previously reserved section of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council's code chapter to create such a program. The council would run a grant program that reimburses actual veterinary expenses, funded only through voluntary gifts, grants, and donations rather than direct state appropriations.
The bill defines who and what qualifies: retired law enforcement dogs (those certified in detection, apprehension, or search and rescue work), charitable organizations that have held 501(c)(3) status for at least five years, and qualified law enforcement foundations. Reimbursement requires an application, proof the dog served with a law enforcement or correctional agency, and veterinarian documentation of care and payment. Grants are capped at $5,000 per dog per calendar year. The council can write rules to run the program. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it.
### What it does
- Creates a grant program within the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council to reimburse veterinary care costs for retired law enforcement dogs.
- Limits funding sources to voluntary gifts, grants, donations, or contributions, meaning no direct state tax dollars are appropriated for the grants.
- Caps reimbursement at $5,000 per dog per calendar year, regardless of how many people or organizations care for that dog.
- Requires applicants to submit proof of the dog's prior service and a licensed veterinarian's documentation of the care and payment before receiving funds.
- Defines key terms such as 'retired law enforcement dog,' 'charitable organization,' and 'qualified law enforcement foundation' to set eligibility boundaries.
- Authorizes the council to write rules and procedures to administer the grant program, including application and monitoring processes.
### Who it affects
Former police and corrections dog handlers, people who adopt retired law enforcement or corrections dogs, charitable organizations that support these dogs, qualified law enforcement foundations, and the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, which would administer the new grant program.
### Why it matters
Retired law enforcement dogs often need ongoing medical care because of the physical demands of their service, and that care can be costly for the people who take them in. This bill gives handlers, adopters, and supporting organizations a possible source of reimbursement, though funding depends entirely on voluntary donations rather than guaranteed state money.
### Key provisions
- Subsection (a) defines terms including 'charitable organization,' 'law enforcement agency,' 'retired law enforcement dog,' and 'veterinary care.'
- Subsection (c) establishes the grant program and specifies it is funded only by voluntary gifts, grants, donations, or contributions, with no special benefit to contributors.
- Subsection (c)(3) requires a grant application, agency documentation confirming the dog's service, and veterinarian documentation of care and payment before funds are disbursed.
- Subsection (d)(3) caps grant disbursements at $5,000.00 per dog per calendar year.
- Subsection (e) authorizes the council to adopt rules and regulations needed to run the program.
- Section 2 sets the effective date as the date the Governor signs the bill or it otherwise becomes law without signature.
## Status
- Status: Engrossed (2026-03-04)
- Last action: Senate Read Second Time (2026-03-25)
- Sponsors: Steven Sainz, Bill Hitchens, Clint Crowe, Soo Hong, Sandy Donatucci, Imani Barnes, Kay Kirkpatrick
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72257
> The history, votes, and amendments (610 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb990.md?full=1