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

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.

• 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.

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.

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.

• 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.

1. 2026-03-25Senate Read Second Time (Senado)
2. 2026-03-25Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senado)
3. 2026-03-06Senate Read and Referred (Senado)
4. 2026-03-04House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Cámara de Representantes)
5. 2026-03-04House Third Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
6. 2026-02-26House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Cámara de Representantes)
7. 2026-01-27House Second Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
8. 2026-01-16House First Readers (Cámara de Representantes)

• Steven Sainz (R, HD-180)Patrocinador principal
• Bill Hitchens (R, HD-161)
• Clint Crowe (R, HD-118)
• Soo Hong (R, HD-103)
• Sandy Donatucci (R, HD-105)
• Imani Barnes (D, HD-086)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)

1. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes4 de marzo de 2026

   171 a favor, 0 en contra (1 sin votar, 5 ausentes)

   Passage: House Vote #610

• law enforcement K9s
• veterinary care funding
• public safety grants
• animal welfare
• Criminal Justice Coordinating Council