LEO K9 Protection Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4643
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-21: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-01T20:18:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation aims to strengthen protections for animals used in law enforcement by prohibiting certain harmful acts against them and ensuring access to emergency medical care when injured during official duties.
Key Provisions
- Amends section 1368 of title 18, United States Code, to replace the existing subsection (b) with a new penalty provision: using a deadly or dangerous weapon (including defective ones) while committing prohibited acts against a police animal carries a fine, up to 15 years imprisonment, or both.
- Adds a definition of "police animal" covering dogs or horses serving federal agencies or assisting them from state, county, or local levels for purposes such as detecting crime, enforcing laws, apprehending offenders, finding flammable materials, investigating fires, locating missing persons, or serving in official military capacities.
- Includes an exception allowing good-faith emergency veterinary care to an injured police animal.
- Directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue guidance within 180 days for emergency medical services personnel on treating police dogs injured in duty, drawing from existing federal resources like those from the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense.
- Requires the Secretary to issue regulations within 240 days permitting transport of an injured police dog to a veterinary facility when no human patient requires attention and allowing paramedics or emergency medical technicians to provide on-scene or in-transit care.
- Defines "police dog" as any dog meeting the police animal criteria, including those working for state, county, or local agencies.
Significant Changes to Existing Law This bill expands 18 U.S.C. § 1368 by introducing a specific definition for protected animals, clarifying penalties for weapon use in violations, and adding a veterinary care exception. It also creates new federal requirements for emergency medical transportation and treatment protocols for police dogs, which previously lacked such standardized guidance or regulatory allowances.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Federal, state, and local law enforcement may see improved operational support for K9 units; the Department of Transportation and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gain new rulemaking duties.
- Citizens and services: Emergency medical personnel gain authority to assist police dogs under defined conditions, potentially affecting resource allocation during incidents.
- No direct effects on international relations are outlined.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Law enforcement agencies and officers at federal, state, county, and local levels.
- Police animals (primarily dogs and horses) and their handlers.
- Emergency medical services providers and transportation regulators.
- Veterinary facilities and accredited veterinarians consulted in guidance development.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The measure operates within established federal criminal jurisdiction over harm to law enforcement assets and federal transportation authority, with no apparent constitutional conflicts. It introduces limited federal oversight into emergency medical practices typically managed at the state level but frames these as targeted accommodations rather than broad mandates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-21: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-05-21: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- LEO K9 Protection Act — issued 2026-05-21 — PDF (4 pages)