[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6252806,"mediaKeyId","3185854-5f44daf2c9e5642164940d09312b884e","parentId",3185854,"title","Committee hears emotional testimony for 'Kanjo's Law' to allow emergency transport for retired police K‑9s","audioSeconds",1549,"startMs",1175000,"endMs",2724000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3185854-5f44daf2c9e5642164940d09312b884e&start=1175&end=2724","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3185854-5f44daf2c9e5642164940d09312b884e/thumbnail_1175000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6252806/Michigan/Committee-hears-emotional-testimony-for-Kanjos-Law-to-allow-emergency-transport-for-retired-police-K9s","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252806-a4a0ca593193718cf5e8a1a93b57bfca/orig.mp4?Expires=1771067119&Signature=MJW~ZcXesbFn4yQfnoPLGcq71IVAVbWk1wlC7ZhCq0pz0pl1nakVuejJerBSNVvG0YO-FHDyQi77~tpJSxHblhnzXItQuX5JH2dZ7of3CCvTX1A62R62C76ZfpntZ-05gzaM6I7jo9odaWKWmsKy-TKFmzXJ~I1hwRs6430Oj3AMyBy9G8d6~bp4D98HfmN9EDZyLdgvD0Nm7sRkhxeo1OtdGsOypOJE6PwjBgsGSEQ9gjgx~1QUxYXP2Vw3bDVvf-GylyG~pkTdiVttJhdk6dIDjRcK7w2eanvatY-ekMRCKeD4ZWJoCG~HrJ-~88Rs6-8LIzmqrB1Q8XPp234ZXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Government Operations","date","2025-05-01T00:00:00Z","article","The House Committee on Government Operations heard testimony supporting House Bill 4012, often called \"Kanjo's Law,\" which would expand current emergency-transport allowances to include retired law enforcement K‑9s so handlers or caretakers may accompany a retired animal during emergency medical transport.

Representative Mike Hoadley, sponsor of House Bill 4012, told the committee the bill \"addresses this shortcoming by simply expanding service to official retired K‑9s. To be clear, this bill would not mandate ambulance service nor does it change the precedent of human life over that of the canine unit.\" Witnesses described several incidents they said illustrate the need for the change, including extended travel to specialty veterinary care and medical complications after surgery.

Retired Saginaw police officer Brad Hogue testified with his former K‑9, Segan, explaining the dogs' daily duties and training regimen and the physical wear those duties cause. Hogue said the dogs routinely jump in and out of patrol vehicles and train every other Wednesday to meet Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards requirements. Describing emergency care logistics, Hogue said, \"You can't drive and take care of a dog at the same time,\" and said being able to ride in an ambulance would let a handler administer life‑saving first aid en route.

Doug Stacer, Kanjo's former handler, recounted Kanjo's retirement, later health decline and episodes that led to emergency trips and surgery. Jody Welk of K9 Hero Guardians described Kanjo's 2021 back surgery, subsequent development of sepsis and additional emergency treatment needs; she said being present in transport could have allowed quicker or different interventions and greater comfort for the animal. Welk emphasized that the bill would not require medics to provide veterinary care or ask taxpayers to cover those costs; instead, handlers or organizations such as hers would cover care and education efforts for emergency responders.

Committee members asked operational questions, including how ambulance services would be notified or recognize retired K‑9s and who would cover costs. Witnesses said most medics already know current law for active K‑9s and that advocates would \"send literature out\" and do outreach to EMS providers to explain the retired‑K‑9 provision. No committee vote on the bill was recorded in the hearing; the chief action in the transcript was taking testimony and reading support cards from Deborah Murphy (Saginaw), Anne Griffin (Michigan Humane) and Mike Caparoni (Humane World for Animals).

Supporters framed the bill as a targeted fix to address emergencies for animals that have served in law enforcement, while witnesses also described the broader community role K‑9s play in public relations and youth outreach. The hearing record does not show committee action beyond receiving testimony and reading submitted support cards.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Government Operations | Thursday, May 1, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Lawmakers heard testimony supporting House Bill 4012, which would allow emergency medical transport for retired law enforcement K‑9s so handlers or caretakers can accompany them; witnesses recounted Kanjo's medical emergency and argued the change would allow faster, handler-provided care during transport.","taxTitle","Government Operations, House of Representative, Committees\t\t\t\t\t, Legislative, Michigan","taxId",27465,"location","Michigan","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6252812,"Committee advances bill to restore merit-based factors for unclassified state hiring",553,620000,1173000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3185854-5f44daf2c9e5642164940d09312b884e&start=620&end=1173","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3185854-5f44daf2c9e5642164940d09312b884e/thumbnail_620000.jpg","/articles/6252812/Michigan/Committee-advances-bill-to-restore-merit-based-factors-for-unclassified-state-hiring","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252812-15c287f27148e1b4ae3a51b689a35539/orig.mp4?Expires=1771067119&Signature=PsDwvNOz7O5P57IeTWZfEJ9x~O2oPuyWnQQJSoaXeFlkNluqo-sArqpzEApEfwxTbeT-84VWPNYjQFVysYhd1YmL-p2R2tUWFUk8NSEuTjisEtt6R~eaxvAm-wE7GHsDP3G06klJsIxES-WvSZXTkbWwQW4kF2XNYtdY9eujuNIFDD0tsbaQFJxPC6yppH3~yaALP34rHAaRQ2Bwn98Pf7UaKW9ZgIKHH6axC8X9lUFEiMoTp03MqhUYc4hFjy7jPyrDZ5KHmO5r7~TvMw3O-KslCsNkLpHo3b7i0nkMMawYHPh-sxmn5h1H1~CC9uan2Bu-avfZr0nj4D3A8wKm9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Committee on Government Operations voted 5-0 to report House Bill 4288 as a new substitute after hearing testimony and debate on the measure that would require state agencies to use at least one merit-based factor, such as education or work experience, when hiring unclassified positions.

Committee supporters said the bill is intended to ensure qualifications — not relationships or political considerations — are central to hiring decisions. Representative Regas, a bill proponent, told the panel: \"State government should be hiring people based on whether they can do the job well. We're putting merit and qualifications back at the heart of state government hiring.\" She added that the legislation is meant to \"stop the idea that characteristics, which we don't control, should carry more weight than skill, experience and drive.\"

Proponents framed the bill as restoring merit amid concerns about favoritism. Representative Harris, who identified herself as a cosponsor and spoke as minority vice chair, said the bill \"is intended to really help to break down any barrier that there is, based on non qualified applicants\" and to make \"people's merits and their qualifications ... the primary considerations.\" The committee also heard that penalties were added to the bill in the draft under consideration.

During debate, committee members offered and voted on several amendments. An amendment (No. 876) that clarifies the bill \"applies to hiring applicants to offices within a department or agency of the executive branch as well\" was moved and adopted by roll call (5 yes, 0 no). Two other amendments failed: Representative McFall's amendment addressing pay-equity-related provisions did not prevail (2 yeas, 3 nays), and an amendment from Representative Fitzgerald to make the bill contingent on enactment of certain payroll-fraud bills also failed (2 yeas, 3 nays).

The committee distinguished discussion from formal actions. Members debated the bill's intent, scope and any new penalties; amendments were offered and either adopted or rejected on the record. The committee's final formal action was to report House Bill 4288 \"with recommendation as amended as a new substitute,\" a motion that passed by roll call 5-0.

What the bill would do and remaining questions: the text discussed in committee requires use of at least one merit-based hiring factor (education or work experience) for unclassified positions, and committee members clarified that the substitute includes an explicit application to executive-branch offices. Members also raised but did not resolve competing views about whether the bill advances equitable hiring in the broad sense; one member described the bill as restoring a merit process while others framed it as consistent with equitable treatment of applicants.

Next steps: the committee reported the bill with recommendation as amended; the record does not show further action during the hearing on whether the House will schedule the bill for floor action.","The House Committee on Government Operations voted to report House Bill 4288 as a new substitute after debate and failed amendments; the bill would require use of at least one merit-based factor, such as education or work experience, when hiring unclassified state positions.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee hears emotional testimony for 'Kanjo's Law' to allow emergency transport for retired police K‑9s

Committee advances bill to restore merit-based factors for unclassified state hiring