SB 301 - Beginning July 1, 2010, this act requires all state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies and officers to use only a canine team which has been certified by an association approved by the Department of Public Safety when a canine performs or assists in certain law enforcement specialities. The department must establish the standards and criteria for canine certification and recertification including, but not limited to, obedience, aggression, and narcotics and explosives detection. Each law enforcement canine team shall be initially certified and annually recertified in one of the following specialities: drug odor detection, explosive device odor detection, suspect apprehension, or apprehension and search skills. Such team shall be certified upon evaluation by an authorized canine judge.
Law enforcement agencies shall maintain records of canine team certifications, which shall be provided to the department of public safety upon request. A canine team that fails an evaluation may, after thirty days, repeat the evaluation. The department shall not impose a fee for certification. It may revoke or suspend the certification of a canine team or the authorization of any canine judge, who violates any state law or rule.
This act is identical to HB 149 (2009) and similar to certain provisions of HCS/HB 707 (2009).
SUSAN HENDERSON MOORE