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Senate committee adopts amendment shielding veterinarians in EMS operational-canine transfers
Summary
The Alaska Senate Health and Social Services Committee on May 15 adopted an amendment to House Bill 70 that shields veterinarians from civil liability when they accept operational canines transferred by emergency medical technicians or mobile intensive care paramedics; the committee then moved the bill from committee with a zero fiscal note.
The Alaska Senate Health and Social Services Committee voted May 15 to adopt an amendment to House Bill 70 that would bar civil damages claims against veterinarians who, in good faith, accept operational canines transferred by emergency medical technicians or mobile intensive care paramedics, and the committee moved the bill from committee as amended.
The amendment was read into the record by Sen. Giesel, who said the change "inserts on page 2 following line 3" language that "a veterinarian licensed in this jurisdiction who in good faith receives the transfer of an operational canine under section 7 of this bill is not liable for civil damages as a result of an act or omission of the emergency medical technician or mobile intensive care paramedic who transferred the operational canine to the veterinarian." The committee adopted the amendment by unanimous consent after discussion and then approved reporting HB 70 from committee as amended; the attached fiscal note was listed as $0.
The amendment was offered to address concerns raised about unintended consequences and potential liability for veterinarians handling animals transferred from emergency medical services. Representative Calvin Schrage, sponsor of the bill, thanked the committee and acknowledged a friendly amendment had been proposed. Jeremy Houston, staff to Representative Schrage, said the amendment was developed after community concerns and that the office looked to laws in other states, citing Ohio as a model.
Sen. Hughes said she supported the bill when asked, and Sen. Clayman said his experience defending medical-malpractice cases led him to applaud the amendment. No recorded roll-call votes were taken; committee action to adopt the amendment and to report the bill proceeded by the committee chair asking for objections and, seeing none, declaring the motions adopted.
The committee noted an amendment deadline of 5 p.m. the previous day and that one amendment had been filed. The hearing opened at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 15, in Room 205 and concluded at about 3:36 p.m. The committee listed Division of Public Health staff and EMS instructors as available for questions during the hearing. The committee scheduled a tentative meeting for May 20 to handle any last-minute end-of-session needs.
House Bill 70 as discussed would govern transfers of operational canines used by emergency medical services; the adopted amendment specifically addresses civil liability for veterinarians receiving those animals. The committee did not adopt any changes to fiscal impacts and did not record individual ayes and nays in the transcript of this session.
