Bill Summary
The "LEO K9 Protection Act" aims to enhance the protection of animals used in law enforcement, specifically police dogs and horses. The legislation amends Title 18 of the United States Code to impose stricter penalties on individuals who harm these animals while using a deadly or dangerous weapon, with potential fines or imprisonment for up to 15 years.
Key provisions of the Act include:
1. **Definition of Police Animals**: It defines "police animals" as dogs or horses serving federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies, including their roles in detecting criminal activity, investigating fires, or assisting in military capacities.
2. **Emergency Medical Care Guidance**: The Act mandates the Secretary of Transportation to develop guidelines for emergency medical services personnel on how to care for police dogs injured in the line of duty.
3. **Regulations for Medical Transportation**: It requires the Secretary of Transportation to create regulations ensuring that injured police dogs can be transported to veterinary care without delay and receive emergency medical assistance on-site or during transport.
4. **Protection of Good Faith Actions**: The Act specifies that individuals acting in good faith to provide emergency veterinary care to an injured police animal are exempt from penalties under this legislation.
Overall, the LEO K9 Protection Act aims to safeguard law enforcement animals and ensure they receive necessary medical attention when injured, reflecting the important roles they play in public safety.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the "LEO K9 Protection Act" could affect people:
1. **Increased Legal Protections for Police Animals**: The legislation imposes stricter penalties for individuals who harm police animals, specifically dogs and horses used in law enforcement. This could lead to greater accountability for those who may consider harming these animals, thereby enhancing their protection. As a result, law enforcement agencies may feel more secure in deploying police animals for various duties, knowing that there are legal ramifications for their harm.
2. **Improved Emergency Medical Response for Injured Police Dogs**: The Act mandates the development of guidance and regulations for emergency medical services personnel to care for and transport injured police dogs. This could lead to better training and preparedness among emergency responders when a police dog is injured during duty. Consequently, quicker and more effective medical care could improve the chances of recovery for these animals, which in turn can support the law enforcement officers relying on them.
3. **Increased Awareness and Support for Law Enforcement Canines**: By emphasizing the welfare of police animals and establishing protocols for their care, the legislation may raise public awareness about the roles and sacrifices of police dogs in law enforcement. This could foster more community support for police K9 units, potentially leading to increased funding, donations, and volunteer efforts to assist with the needs and training of these working animals.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4755 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4755
To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit harming animals used
in law enforcement, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 25, 2025
Mr. Bean of Florida (for himself and Mr. Mills) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary,
and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of
the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit harming animals used
in law enforcement, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``LEO K9 Protection Act''.
SEC. 2. HARMING ANIMALS USED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
Section 1368 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by
striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
``(b) Whoever, in the commission of any act described in subsection
(a), uses a deadly or dangerous weapon (including a weapon intended to
cause death or danger but that fails to do so by reason of a defective
component), shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than
15 years, or both.
``(c) In this section, the term `police animal' means a dog or
horse in the service of a Federal agency (whether in the executive,
legislative, or judicial branch), or in the service of a State, county,
or local agency that is assisting a Federal agency--
``(1) for the principal purpose of aiding in the detection
of criminal activity, enforcement of laws, or the apprehension
of criminal offenders, the detection of flammable materials,
the investigation of fires, the detection of missing persons
(including persons who are lost, who are trapped under debris
as the result of a natural, manmade, or technological disaster,
or who are drowning victims); or
``(2) used in any official military capacity by the
Department of Defense.
``(d) This section does not apply to a person who acts in good
faith to provide emergency veterinary care to an injured police
animal.''.
SEC. 3. MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION FOR POLICE DOGS INJURED IN OFFICIAL
DUTY.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Office of Emergency
Medical Services Initiatives at the National Highway Transportation
Safety Administration, shall publish guidance for emergency medical
services personnel in order to care for police dogs injured while such
police dog is engaged in official duties of the dog. The Secretary
shall develop such guidance using existing Federal guidelines of the
Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, the Canine
Tactical Combat Casualty Care Guidelines, and other resources already
available at Federal agencies. The Secretary may consult accredited
veterinarians, as necessary, in developing the guidance under this
section.
SEC. 4. REGULATIONS FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.
Not later than 240 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of Transportation shall promulgate regulations to ensure
that--
(1) a police dog injured while such police dog is engaged
in official duties of the dog may be transported to a
veterinary clinic or similar facility if there is no individual
requiring medical attention or transport at that time; and
(2) a paramedic or an emergency medical technician may
provide emergency medical care to a police dog while such
police dog is engaged in official duties of the dog while at
the scene of the emergency or while the police dog is being
transported to a veterinary clinic or similar facility.
SEC. 5. DEFINITION.
In this Act, the term ``police dog'' means a police animal (as such
term is defined in section 1368 of title 18, United States Code) that
is a dog, and includes a similar dog working in the service of a State,
county, or local agency.
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