Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Committee hears broad support for standards that would certify emergency response 'comfort dogs'
Summary
Sponsors and witnesses told the committee Senate Bill 573 would create statewide training, certification and care standards for emergency response/public safety comfort dogs so handlers and departments have consistent access and liability clarity. Police handlers and mental‑health advocates urged adoption; some lawmakers asked about enforceability and funding.
Sen. Regina Bertzil, prime sponsor of Senate Bill 573, told the committee the bill creates minimum training, certification, vehicle‑safety and retirement standards for emergency response public‑safety comfort dogs, building on work of the governor's PTSD commission. "Comfort dog, these comfort dogs are specifically trained to provide emotional support, comfort, and crisis response," she said.
Justin Breton, a Manchester…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
