SB 1305: Emergency medical services providers: dogs and cats.

Existing law, the Emergency Medical Services System and the Prehospital Emergency Medical Care Personnel Act (the act), establishes the Emergency Medical Services Authority to coordinate and integrate all state activities concerning emergency medical services, including, among other duties, establishing training standards for specified emergency services personnel. The act provides a qualified immunity for public entities and emergency rescue personnel providing emergency services. The act provides other exemptions from liability for specified professionals rendering emergency medical services.

Existing law, the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act, governs the practice of veterinary medicine in this state and makes it unlawful for any person to practice veterinary medicine in this state without a valid license issued pursuant to the act. For purposes of the act, the practice of veterinary medicine includes, among other things, administering a drug, appliance, or treatment for the cure or relief of a wound, fracture, or bodily injury of an animal.

This bill would authorize an emergency responder, as defined, to provide basic first aid to dogs and cats, as defined, to the extent that the provision of that care is not prohibited by the responders employer. The bill would limit civil liability for specified individuals who provide care to a pet or other domesticated animal during an emergency by applying existing provisions of state law. The definition of basic first aid to dogs and cats for purposes of these provisions would specifically include, among other acts, administering oxygen and bandaging for the purpose of stopping bleeding.