LRBs0253/1
TJD:klm
2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE
SENATE SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT 1,
TO SENATE BILL 435
January 19, 2018 - Offered by Senator Cowles.
SB435-SSA1,1,3 1An Act to amend 89.05 (1); and to create 256.04 (11) and 256.155 of the statutes;
2relating to: the rendering of first aid to animals by emergency medical services
3practitioners or emergency medical responders.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This substitute amendment allows an emergency medical services practitioner
or an emergency medical responder to render first aid services to a sick or injured
domestic animal that the emergency medical services practitioner or emergency
medical responder encounters in the course of responding to a call for services before
the domestic animal is transferred to a veterinarian for further treatment. Under
the substitute amendment, a domestic animal is a dog, cat, or other house pet. The
service provided to the domestic animal must be in the scope of practice of the
emergency medical services practitioner or emergency medical responder when
applied to human beings.
The substitute amendment provides civil and criminal immunity for
ambulance service providers, emergency medical services practitioners, or
emergency medical responders for any outcomes resulting from the rendering of first
aid to the domestic animal. The substitute amendment also provides civil and
criminal immunity for those persons for declining to render first aid to a domestic
animal.

The substitute amendment incorporates a terminology change as enacted in
2017 Wisconsin Act 12.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB435-SSA1,1 1Section 1. 89.05 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB435-SSA1,2,82 89.05 (1) Except as provided under sub. (2) and s. ss. 256.155 and 257.03, no
3person may offer to practice, advertise to practice or practice veterinary medicine,
4or use, in connection with his or her name, any title or description which may convey
5the impression that he or she is a veterinarian, without a license or temporary permit
6from the examining board. For purposes of this subsection, a person who makes
7extra-label use of a drug on an animal without a prescription or in any manner not
8authorized by that prescription is considered to be practicing veterinary medicine.
SB435-SSA1,2 9Section 2. 256.04 (11) of the statutes is created to read:
SB435-SSA1,2,1310 256.04 (11) Serve as a repository and contact for information and guidance on
11rendering first aid to domestic animals. In developing any guidance under this
12subsection, the board shall consult with a licensed veterinarian who is trained in
13pre-hospitalization emergency care of domestic animals.
SB435-SSA1,3 14Section 3. 256.155 of the statutes is created to read:
SB435-SSA1,2,16 15256.155 First aid to domestic animals. (1) Definition. In this section,
16“domestic animal” has the meaning given in s. 895.484 (1) (a).
SB435-SSA1,3,2 17(2) Rendering first aid allowed. An emergency medical services practitioner
18or emergency medical responder who, in the course of responding to a call for service,
19encounters a domestic animal that is sick or injured may render any first aid service
20to the domestic animal before the domestic animal is transferred to a veterinarian
21for further treatment if the service is in the scope of practice of the license or

1certification of that emergency medical services practitioner or emergency medical
2responder when applied to human beings.
SB435-SSA1,3,7 3(3) Immunity from liability. (a) An ambulance service provider, emergency
4medical services practitioner, or emergency medical responder is immune from civil
5or criminal liability for any outcomes resulting from an emergency medical services
6practitioner or an emergency medical responder rendering first aid to a domestic
7animal in accordance with sub. (2).
SB435-SSA1,3,108 (b) An ambulance service provider, emergency medical services practitioner, or
9emergency medical responder is immune from civil or criminal liability from
10declining to render first aid to a domestic animal.
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