Georgia CommonsHB 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
Comm Sub version, the latest LegiScan holds · Last action March 25, 2026 · Engrossed
The text as LegiScan holds it, read from the PDF the legislature publishes with its margin line numbers, running heads, and page footers removed. Line breaks are joined into paragraphs here; no word is changed.
Underlined words are what the bill adds to current law and struck-through words are what it removes, as the printed bill shows them.
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.