SB435: Bill Text

LRB-4245/1

TJD:klm

2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE

2017 Senate BILL 435

October 9, 2017 - Introduced by Senators Cowles, Risser, Wanggaard, Olsen, Carpenter, Nass, Erpenbach, Marklein and Vinehout, cosponsored by Representatives Considine, Kitchens, VanderMeer, Milroy, Gannon, Sinicki, Kulp, Anderson, Pope, Tauchen, Stuck, Ohnstad, Crowley, Sargent, Berceau, Spreitzer, Subeck, Wachs, C. Taylor, E. Brooks, Quinn, Kolste, Jacque, Doyle, Ballweg and Born. Referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.

SB435,1,3 An Act to amend 89.05 (1); and to create 256.04 (10) and 256.155 of the statutes; relating to: the rendering of first aid to animals by emergency medical technicians or first responders.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill allows an emergency medical technician or a first responder to render first aid services to a sick or injured domestic animal that the emergency medical technician or first 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 bill, 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 technician or first responder when applied to human beings.

The bill provides civil and criminal immunity for ambulance service providers, emergency medical technicians, or first responders for any outcomes resulting from the rendering of first aid to the domestic animal. The bill also provides civil and criminal immunity for those persons for declining to render first aid to a domestic animal.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB435,1 Section 1. 89.05 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB435,2,7 89.05 (1) Except as provided under sub. (2) and s. ss. 256.155 and 257.03, no person may offer to practice, advertise to practice or practice veterinary medicine, or use, in connection with his or her name, any title or description which may convey the impression that he or she is a veterinarian, without a license or temporary permit from the examining board. For purposes of this subsection, a person who makes extra-label use of a drug on an animal without a prescription or in any manner not authorized by that prescription is considered to be practicing veterinary medicine.

SB435,2 Section 2. 256.04 (10) of the statutes is created to read:

SB435,2,12 256.04 (10) Serve as a repository and contact for information and guidance on rendering first aid to domestic animals. In developing any guidance under this subsection, the board shall consult with a licensed veterinarian who is trained in pre-hospitalization emergency care of domestic animals.

SB435,3 Section 3. 256.155 of the statutes is created to read:

SB435,2,15 256.155 First aid to domestic animals. (1) Definition. In this section, “domestic animal” has the meaning given in s. 895.484 (1) (a).

SB435,2,21 (2) Rendering first aid allowed. An emergency medical technician or first responder who, in the course of responding to a call for service, encounters a domestic animal that is sick or injured may render any first aid service to the domestic animal before the domestic animal is transferred to a veterinarian for further treatment if the service is in the scope of practice of the license or certification of that emergency medical technician or first responder when applied to human beings.

SB435,2,25 (3) Immunity from liability. (a) An ambulance service provider, emergency medical technician, or first responder is immune from civil or criminal liability for any outcomes resulting from an emergency medical technician or a first responder rendering first aid to a domestic animal in accordance with sub. (2).

SB435,3,3 (b) An ambulance service provider, emergency medical technician, or first responder is immune from civil or criminal liability from declining to render first aid to a domestic animal.

SB435,3,4 (End)