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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 police officer and comfort dog handler, described day‑to‑day deployments and said a common certification would help ensure access to hospitals and schools during incidents. "There is currently no standards or guidelines or certifications out there that exist to help justify or qualify the very important work that we are doing," Breton testified.
Municipal police chiefs, NAMI New Hampshire and trainers urged the committee to keep safety and veterinary requirements intact; they said insurers and risk pools need clear standards so agencies can secure appropriate coverage. "Maintaining strong safety standards is essential to the integrity of the comfort dog programs," said Holly Stevens of NAMI New Hampshire.
Lawmakers asked practical questions about enforcement, unfunded costs for certifications and whether existing police standard‑and‑training boards could manage model policies. Sponsors said many towns already cover dogs through municipal risk pools and that subcommittee drafting would consider unfunded mandate concerns and carve‑outs for agencies with their own policies.
The committee closed public testimony and signaled it would work in subcommittee to refine language on certification details, complaint processes and financial responsibilities for municipalities.
